The Australian travel industry’s night of nights went off with a bang at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on Saturday 26th October 2024, preceded the day before with a debut Beyond Borders Travel Summit, and the second-ever pre-NTIA finalist extravaganza.
Excellence was honoured from both travel agencies and industry suppliers, with more than 1,300 people attending the sold-out event which saw 38 winners named from among hundreds of worthy finalists.
Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), hailed the success of the event and confirmed that future NTIAs would move each year with the 2025 event taking place in Brisbane.
TravelBulletin‘s sister publications Travel Daily and Cruise Weekly broke the news of the big winners on the night, which we have summarised below with photos for each category. Travel Daily also published a special edition featuring all the news, photos, and big winners from this year’s 2 day event – read it HERE.
For more photos from the 2024 NTIAs, CLICK HERE.
Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager
Winner: Rosie Loxley, Flight Centre
Finalists: Baris Celik, TAG; Leah Mullen, Tailor Made Travel Mt Gambier; Michelle Hartland, Champagne Travel; Rebecca McHenry, itravel Liverpool; Rosie Loxley, Flight Centre; Sonia Jones, Sonia Jones Travel
Sponsor: Silversea (Cassandra Kerr)
Most Outstanding Mobile / Home Based Travel Advisor
Winner: Donna Jones, MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Finalists: Donna Jones, MTA Mobile Travel Agents; Julianne Gazal-Rizk, TravelManagers Australia; Margy Stimson, MTA Mobile Travel Agents; Melanie Whyte, TravelManagers Australia; Sarah Fenton, MTA Mobile Travel Agents; Tracey Flower, MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Sponsor: Visit Qatar (Richard Styles)
Most Outstanding Employee Engagement & Recruitment Program
Winner: Phil Hoffmann Travel
Finalists: BCD Travel
Connected Travel
Phil Hoffmann Travel
RAA Travel
TravelManagers Australia
Sponsor: Travel Trade Recruitment (Sarah Johnson)
Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Institution
Winner: Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
Finalists: Connected Travel Academy
Cornerstone Learning & Development
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
Helloworld Travel Academy
TAFE Queensland
Sponsor: Air New Zealand
Most Outstanding Travel Sales Executive – Air
Winner: Richard Carrick, United Airlines
Finalists: Aidan Truscott, Singapore Airlines; Kelly Lachker, Qatar Airways; Lorna Groves, Lufthansa Group; Peter Lombardi, Lufthansa Group; Richard Carrick, United Airlines; Robin Woods, Qantas
Sponsor: CVFR Payments
Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Hotels / Car Hire
Winner: Bianca Phillis, IHG Hotels & Resorts
Finalists: Andrew Hodson, Accor Pacific; Bianca Phillis, IHG Hotels & Resorts; Carmen Olmedo, Marriott International; Michelle Nickelson, Club Med; Rebecca Simpson, Hertz Australia
Sponsor: Qantas Airways
Most Popular Accommodation Group / Chain
Winner: Club Med
Finalists: Accor
Club Med
IHG Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Quest Apartment Hotels
Sponsor: Stuba
Most Outstanding Consumer Travel Journalist
Winner: Jessica Lockhart
Finalists: Carrie Hutchinson
Jessica Lockhart
Kerry van der Jagt
Michael McHugh
Stephen Scourfield
Sponsor: TTC Tour Brands (Toni Ambler)
Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Tour Operator
Winner: Carla Dabit, TTC Tour Brands
Finalists: Alexa Papoulias, Abercrombie & Kent; Anji Tierney, Globus Family of Brands; Carla Dabit, TTC Tour Brands; Jodi Watson, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours; John McCarten, On the Go Tours; Michelle Daniels, Evolution Travel Collective; Rebecca Setchell, AAT Kings
Sponsor: Cover-More Travel Insurance
Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Wholesaler
Winner: Jackie Gordon, Viva Holidays, Readyrooms, Cruiseco
Finalists: Andrea Morgan, Adventure World; Fraser Tong, DriveAway; Jackie Gordon, Viva Holidays, Readyrooms, Cruiseco; Simone Barnett, Expedia TAAP; Suzie Goumas, DriveAway
Sponsor: Virgin Australia
Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Cruise
Winner: Barbara Baron, APT Group
Finalists: Barbara Baron, APT Travel Group; Cameron McDonell, Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic; Elsa McLean, Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Joshua Galea, Avalon Waterways; Sara Puglia, Silversea
Sponsor: MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
Most Popular Car Rental Operator
Winner: Avis
Finalists: Avis
Budget
East Coast Car Rentals
Hertz Australia
Sponsor: ATIA Accredited
Most Popular Tourism Office
Winner: Tourism New Zealand | Manaakitanga Aotearoa
Finalists: Destination Canada
Hawai’i Tourism Oceania
Tourism Fiji
Tourism New Zealand | Manaakitanga Aotearoa
Travel South USA
Sponsor: Sabre Travel Network
Most Popular Airline – Offline
Winner: Lufthansa Group
Finalists: Air France KLM Group; Finnair; Lufthansa Group; Oman Air
Sponsor: CVFR Travel Group – Airline Rep Services
Rookie of the Year
Winner: Rachel Horsburgh, RACQ Travel
Finalists: Ashley Nabarro, TAG; Charlotte Lloyd, American Express Global Business Travel; Ella Uebergang, Windsong Travel; Kim Lodington, Show Group;
Kyle Barney, Gallivanter Travel; Rachel Horsburgh, RACQ Travel
Sponsor: Qantas (Kathryn Robertson)
Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Corporate
Winner: Jaime McLeod, Mobilise Travel
Finalists: Darren Swinton, Show Group; Emma Bradbury, Show Group; Jaime McLeod, Mobilise Travel; Natasha Benson, Stage and Screen Travel; Tom Simak, American Express Global Business Travel
Sponsor: Qatar Airways
Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Leisure
Winner: Emma Smith, Back Track Adventures
Finalists: Blake Powell, Eclipse Travel; Emma Smith, Back Track Adventures; Lachlan Woodland, InsideJapan Tours; Pip Smith, Helloworld Toowoomba CBD; Samantha Renvoye, Clean Cruising
Sponsor: Wendy Wu Tours (Simon Bell)
Sustainability Award – Supplier
Winner: Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic
Finalists: Aurora Expeditions
G Adventures
Hurtigruten Group
Inside Travel Group
Intrepid Travel
Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic
Sponsor: Express Travel Group
Sustainability Award – ATIA Accredited Agency
Winner: Reho Travel
Finalists: American Express Global Business Travel
BCD Travel
Corporate Travel Management
Reho Travel
The Incentive Lab
Sponsor: APT Travel Group
Most Popular Airline – Online
Winner: Singapore Airlines
Finalists: Air New Zealand
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
Virgin Australia
Sponsor: CVFR Consolidation Services
Innovation in Travel Support Services
Winner: Air Tickets – SmartRefunds
Finalists: Aeronology – AeroFares
Air Tickets – SmartRefunds
Amadeus – Customer Learning Services
CVFR Travel Group – CVFR Payments
Smart Trips – Smart Trips Hub and App
Travelport – Support Portal
TTC Tour Brands – Travel Agent Portal (TAP)
Sponsor: Wendy Wu Tours (Simon Bell)
Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign
Winner: Trafalgar Tours – Trafalgar Unlocked – Real Guests, Real Stories, Real Travel Inspiration
Finalists: Luxury Escapes – Best of the Decade
RAA Travel – It pays to cruise with RAA
Tourism New Zealand | Manaakitanga Aotearoa – If You Seek
Tourism Western Australia – Drive the Dream
Trafalgar Tours – Trafalgar Unlocked
Webjet – Far North Queensland Promotion
Sponsor: Expedia TAAP (Stu Udy)
Most Outstanding Global Travel Management Company
Winner: ATPI
Finalists: American Express Global Business Travel
ATPI
Corporate Travel Management (CTM)
FCM Travel
TAG
Sponsor: Virgin Australia
Most Outstanding Australian-Owned Travel Management Company
Winner: Spencer Travel
Finalists: Anywhere Travel
Mobilise Travel
Phil Hoffmann Corporate Travel
Platinum Travel Group
Sanford International Travel
Spencer Travel
Sponsor: Singapore Airlines
Most Popular River Cruise Operator
Winner: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Finalists: APT
Avalon Waterways
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Viking
Sponsor: Envoyage (Nick Queale)
Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator
Winner: Viking
Finalists: APT
Norwegian Cruise Line
PONANT
Princess Cruises
Viking
Sponsor: Amadeus (Kaylene Shuttlewood)
Most Outstanding Business Events Travel Agency
Winner: The Incentive Lab
Finalists: ATPI
CTM Meetings & Events
Directions Travel
FCM Meetings & Events
Phil Hoffmann Travel
The Incentive Lab
Sponsor: Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers
Most Outstanding Online Travel Agency
Winner: Luxury Escapes
Finalists: Amex GBT Egencia
Away We Go Tours
Luxury Escapes
MyHoliday2
Webjet
Sponsor: Singapore Airlines
Most Outstanding Leisure Travel Agency – Single Location
Winner: Frank Ford Travel & Planetdwellers Travel Tours and Events
Finalists: Airfare Geeks
Floreat World of Travel
Frank Ford Travel
Globetrotter Lifestyle
Helloworld Travel Strathpine
Planetdwellers Travel Tours & Events
Sponsor: Expedia TAAP
Most Outstanding Leisure Travel Agency – Multi Location
Winner: Bicton Travel
Finalists: Bicton Travel
Helloworld Travel Mackay, Mt Pleasant & Willows Townsville
Hunter Travel Group (HTG)
National Travel Group
Phil Hoffmann Travel
RAA Travel
Sponsor: Singapore Airlines
Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Destination / Experience
Winner: Bicton Travel
Finalists: Adventure World
ANZCRO
Bench Africa
The Africa Safari Co
Sno’n’ski
Sponsor: Helloworld Travel Limited
Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Specialised
Winner: Albatross Tours
Finalists: 50 Degrees North
AAT Kings Tours
Albatross Tours
InsideJapan
Wide Eyed Tours
Sponsor: TravelPay
Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Global
Winner: Intrepid Travel
Finalists: APT
G Adventures
Globus
Intrepid Travel
TTC Tour Brands (Trafalgar / Insight / Contiki)
Sponsor: Singapore Tourism Board
Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network
Winner: Travelmanagers Australia
Finalists: Envoyage
itravel
MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
Travelglobe
Travelmanagers Australia
Sponsor: Cover-More Travel Insurance
Most Outstanding Travel Agency Network
Winner: Travellers Choice
Finalists: Australian Travel Agents Co-operative Ltd
Envoyage
Helloworld Business Travel
Magellan Travel
Travellers Choice
Sponsor: Royal Caribbean
Most Outstanding Branded Travel Agency Group
Winner: Travel Associates
Finalists: itravel
Flight Centre Brand
Helloworld
Travel Associates
Sponsor: Singapore Airlines
People’s Choice Award
Winner: JC Travel Professionals
Finalists: Contiki
Flight Centre North Lakes
JC Travel Professionals
Royal Caribbean
Taking Off Tours
Sponsor: ESCAPE | News Corp Australia
ATIA Life Member
Awarded to former ATIA Chair, Tom Manwaring.
Pictured with ATIA CEO Dean Long, and current ATIA Chair, Christian Hunter.
