After months of waiting and weeks of judging, we can finally reveal the winners of the inaugural Australian Travel Awards!

Opening up the night, Travel Weekly’s publisher and co-founder of The Misfits Media Company, Dan Uglow, thanked all the attendees and sponsors for their continued support.

“There’s a general feeling of excitement in the room and a healthy dose of nervous anticipation,” he said.

“The most important thank you is to everyone that’s here tonight. By being part of these awards, by entering, by attending and by believing in them. You’re actively helping the industry improve and promote itself.”

The awards, presented in association with Seven West Media’s Better Homes and Gardens and 7Travel, featuring Crystal as a principal sponsor, awarded companies in 35 categories, plus one Grand Prix award for the most impressive overall.

To refresh your memories, the winner of the Grand Prix prize receives an advertising package worth over $75,000 across the Seven West Media network. And the winner was… Intrepid!

Two other hotly-contested awards were the People’s Choice awards – decided entirely by consumer voting promoted by both Better Homes and Gardens and 7Travel via their channels.

Editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens, Julia Zaetta, and head of 7Travel, Sally McFadyen, presented the Favourite Destination award to Fiji, and the Favourite Airline award to Qantas. Congrats to both!

A big thanks to all our sponsors and judges this year, and a massive congrats to all the winners and shortlisted entrants (which you can find here).

So without further ado, here are the winners of the Australian Travel Awards 2018!

Trade Sales Team of the Year

Contiki

Travel Insurance Provider of the Year

Cover-More

Technology Provider of the Year

Alpaca

Online Booking Website of the Year

Experience Oz

Social Responsibility Award

Urban Adventures

Innovation of the Year

Frasers Hospitality Australia

Sustainable Tourism Company of the Year

Intrepid Group

Specialist Wholesaler of the Year

Cruiseco

Adventure Travel Wholesaler of the Year

G Adventures

Wholesaler of the Year

Excite Holidays

Rail Operator of the Year

Rocky Mountaineer

Vehicle Hire of the Year

Avis

Escorted Touring Company of the Year

G Adventures

Low Cost Airline of the Year

Scoot

Economy Class Airline of the Year

Hawaiian Airlines

Premium Economy Class Airline of the Year

Air New Zealand

Business Class Airline of the Year

Etihad Airways

Boutique Hotel of the Year – 10 properties or less

Jamala Wildlife Lodge

Hotel Group of the Year

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)

Hotel of the Year

QT Melbourne

PR Campaign of the Year

Tourism Australia – Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home

Social Media Campaign of the Year

Air New Zealand – A Very Merry Mistake

Marketing Campaign of the Year

Tourism Australia – Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home

River Cruise Line of the Year

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Expedition Cruise Line of the Year

PONANT Yacht Cruises & Expeditions

Ocean Cruise Line of the Year

Crystal Cruises

Corporate Travel Agency of the Year – Under $100 million revenue

Spencer Travel

Corporate Travel Agency of the Year – Over $100 million revenue

QBT

Travel Agency of the Year – Under 30 employees

Platinum Travel Corporation

Luxury Travel Brand of the Year

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Destination of the Year

Travel South USA

Employer of Choice 2018

Luxury Escapes Travel Pty Ltd

Tourism Board of the Year

Tourism New Zealand

People’s Choice – Favourite Destination

Fiji

People’s Choice – Favourite Airline

Qantas

Grand Prix

Intrepid Group