Getaway presenter David Whitehill will host the 2026 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) at the Palladium at Crown Melbourne on Saturday 10 October 2026. The gala dinner is sold out and follows a record year of voting and nominations.
Record votes across 39 categories
Winners will be named across 39 categories. The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) said more than 21,000 votes were cast this year and nominations were higher than in any previous year.
Whitehill presents Getaway and contributes regularly across the Nine Network, including appearances on the Today Show and his own series, Journey to… He has worked as a travel presenter and producer for about two decades.
ATIA CEO Dean Long said Whitehill’s work gave him a connection to the people behind the industry.
“David has made a career of showing Australians the world, and he knows and respects the people who make travel possible,” Long said.
“With a record year of votes and finalists from every corner of the industry, David will have plenty to work with.”
Whitehill said the awards recognised the people who make travel stories possible.
“Every one of them has been made possible by the people in this industry: the travel advisors, tour operators, airline crews and suppliers who get Australians where they want to go. The NTIAs are their night,” he said.
Sponsors return for 2026 awards
Virgin Australia is the MC sponsor. Singapore Airlines returns as major sponsor for a fifth consecutive year.
Other sponsors are Trafalgar (arrival), Helloworld Travel (entertainment) and CVFR Travel Group (afterparty).
Summit and finalist event precede gala
The gala dinner closes a weekend of industry events presented by ATIA. The Beyond Borders Travel Summit and the Viking Finalist Celebration will both take place on Friday 9 October 2026.
ATIA represents most of Australia’s travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and inbound tour operators. Its members transacted $26.9 billion in retail bookings in the 2025/2026 financial year.
