EXCLUSIVE SNAPS: NTIA Glitzy Gala
Another year, another National Travel Industry Awards.
Travel Weekly were amongst those who frocked up for this year’s NTIA’s at the Dockside Pavilion Darling Harbour to rub shoulders with more than 1200 of our closest industry friends. We were even in the running with our very own Tara Harrison up for Best Travel Writer.
AFTA ceo Jayson Westbury strutted on stage to one of his favourite tunes and confirmed the gala awards would be held in the same venue in 2016, before moving on to the bigger and brand new ICC Convention Centre in 2017.
Westbury also noted the lack of Flight Centre executives in the room, repeating AFTA board member Skroo Turner’s comments that next year’s Flight Centre Global Gathering would not coincide with the industry’s night of nights.
Hosted by Andrew Daddo to ensure nominees (and winners) across 37 categories were given their time to shine, entertainment included Martha Marlow who performed Qantas’s new brand campaign tune “Feels like Home” and Rob Mills, who surprised crowds with his Michael Buble rendition.
However, the night was all about the winners, with some taking home the crown for the second and third year, as well as multiple winners across various categories.
Travellers Choice took home the big gong as best travel agency group in multiple locations, with ceo Christian Hunter saying the win was “a David versus Goliath win and a timely reminder that being a great retail travel group is not about size, it’s about service”.
While they didn’t go home with the top gong this year, helloworld had plenty of other reasons to celebrate, taking home 75% of the agent awards and 2 of agency awards. Goldman Travel also won three years in a row as best travel agency corporate (single location) and the recently-rebranded Insider Journeys took home the prize for best speciality wholesaler.
Be sure to congratulate the winners today! Here’s the full list:
- Rookie of the Year – Agent (sponsored by Travelport) – Jonathan Pichaloff from helloworld Newcastle Corporate
- Best Travel Consultant – retail (sponsored by Royal Caribbean) – Phil Smethurst from Bicton Travel
- Best Travel Consultant – corporate (sponsored by Avis) – Ric Pattaro from TravelManagers
- Best Travel Agency Manager – Retail Single Location (sponsored by Virgin Australia) – Uschi Howard from The Travel Authority Northern Beaches
- Best Travel Agency Manager – Corporate Single Location (sponsored by Virgin Australia) – Kerby Reimer from Complete Business Travel
- Best Travel Agency Manager – Retail Multi Location (sponsored by World’s Leading Cruise Lines) – Lisa Tjandi from helloworld Hunter Travel Group
- Best Travel Agency Manager – Corporate Multi Location (sponsored by Cover-More) – Kingsley Dawes from Carlson Wagonlit Travel
- Best Travel Agency – Retail Single Location (sponsored by Singapore Airlines) – Bicton Travel
- Best Travel Agency – Retail Multi Location (sponsored by Qantas) – helloworld Hunter Travel Group/RACT Travel
- Best Travel Agency – Corporate Single Location (sponsored by Qantas) – Goldman Travel Corporation
- Best Travel Agency – Corporate Multi Location (sponsored by Avis) – World Travel Professionals
- Best Business Events Travel Agency (sponsored by Cover-More) – Event Travel Management
- Best National Travel Management Company (sponsored by Qantas) – FCm Travel Solutions
- Best Travel Agent Technology Innovation (sponsored by Qantas Credit Union) – Amadeus Ticket Changer by Amadeus IT Pacific
- Best Travel Writer (sponsored by World’s Leading Cruise Lines) – Louise Goldsbury
- Best Registered Travel Industry Training Institution (sponsored by ASEAN) – Franklyn Scholar
- Best Hotel Resort Group (sponsored by Expedia) – Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
- Rookie of the Year – Supplier (sponsored by Greece & Mediterranean Travel) – Cam McDonell from G Adventures
- Best Sales Executive – Industry Supplier (sponsored by Royal Caribbean) – Stella Hritis from Trafalgar
- Best Agency Support Service (sponsored by The Travel Doctor) – Cover-More Travel Insurance
- Best Tourist Office – International (sponsored by Global Blue) – Dubai Tourism
- Best International Airline – Offline (sponsored by Consolidated Travel) – Finnair
- Best International Airline – Online (sponsored by The Travel Corporation) – Emirates
- Best Domestic Airline (sponsored by Air Tickets) – Qantas Airways
- Best Car/Campervan Rental Operator (sponsored by Expedia) – Hertz
- Best Online Travel Agency (sponsored by Amadeus) – Global Journeys
- Best Specialty Wholesaler (sponsored by South African Tourism) – Insider Journeys
- Best Tour Operator – Domestic (sponsored by Travel Trade Recruitment) – APT
- Best Wholesaler – Australian Product (sponsored by AccorHotels) – Infinity Holidays
- Best Tour Operator – International (sponsored by Dubai Tourism) – APT
- Best Wholesaler – International Product (sponsored by AA Appointments) – Infinity Holidays
- Best Cruise Ship – Domestic Deployment (sponsored by AA Appointments) – Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice
- Best River Cruise Operator (sponsored by helloworld) – APT
- Best Cruise Operator – International Deployment (sponsored by Gow-Gates) – Royal Caribbean International
- Emirates Travel Consultant Scholarship (sponsored by Emirates) – Jamie-Lee Holloway from helloworld Kotara
- Best Non-Branded Travel Agency Group (sponsored by Star Alliance) – Magellan Travel Group
- Best Travel Agency Group (sponsored by Qantas) – Travellers Choice
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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