As a proud Media Supporter of the 2019 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards, Travel Monitor was privileged to join over 1300 guests for the industry’s ‘Night of Nights’ – the NTIA Gala Dinner – held in the Grand Ballroom at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Sydney on Saturday night.
“The NTIA is the industry’s only true awards, [with] industry-wide representation and a strong history of recognising and celebrating businesses and personnel who demonstrate outstanding service, marketing excellence and business acumen within the travel industry. The event may be put on by AFTA, but it is the industry who make it a celebration to remember each and every year,” said Jayson Westbury, AFTA Chief Executive.
Vibrant pre-dinner entertainment, courtesy of South African Tourism, set the mood for the evening, with representatives from airlines, hotels & car hire providers, tour operators, wholesalers, river and cruise operators and leisure, corporate and online travel agencies gathered to celebrate the industry’s best, at a party that kicked on until the wee small hours!
The Grand Ballroom was spectacularly dressed, bathed in soft pink light. Emcee, award-winning personality and TV journalist, Anjali Rao, guided proceedings with panache, through 44 individual Award Categories including, for the first time at the NTIAs, the inaugural CATO Awards, which recognised front line travel consultants across four categories – Group Touring, Adventure, Ski and Free Independent Travel (FIT).
Former Chairman of AFTA, Mike Thompson, who stepped down from his role in December 2018 after almost a decade in the role, was honoured as an AFTA Life Member.
Airline Sponsors showed their commitment to the travel industry by providing more than $100,000 worth of lucky door prizes. Major sponsor, Qantas, gave away $10,000 and $20,000 Qantas travel vouchers, while Star Alliance partnered with CATO tour operators to, once again, to provide eight lucky guests with flight and land package dream holidays. Beverage Sponsor, Air New Zealand, had guests hitting the New Zealand slopes without getting off their chairs, with the Kiwi Peak Pros Challenge affording a chance to win a trip to one of four stunning New Zealand ski regions.
Singer, Paulini, entertained the crowd, thanks to Express Travel Group, and Singapore Airlines hosted the fun-filled After Party, which was held at The Watershed Darling Harbour.
Congratulations to all of the worthy Finalists.
And the 2019 AFTA NTIA Winners are …..
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY GROUP (50 OUTLETS OR MORE)
Travellers Choice
Sponsor – Qantas Airways
BEST NON BRANDED TRAVEL AGENCY GROUP
Magellan Travel
Sponsor – Star Alliance
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY LEISURE – SINGLE LOCATION
Main Beach Travel
Sponsor – Singapore Airlines
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY LEISURE – MULTI LOCATION
Helloworld Travel Mackay & Mt Pleasant
Sponsor – Qantas Airways
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY CORPORATE – SINGLE LOCATION
Complete Business Travel
Sponsor – Qantas Airways
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY CORPORATE – MULTI LOCATION
The Travel Authority
Sponsor – Amadeus IT Pacific
BEST NATIONAL CORPORATE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Corporate Travel Management
Sponsor – Qantas Airways
BEST MOBILE TRAVEL ADVISOR NETWORK
TravelManagers Australia
Sponsor – Globus
BEST ONLINE TRAVEL AGENCY
flybuys Travel
Sponsor – Travelport
BEST BUSINESS EVENTS TRAVEL AGENCY
The Events Authority
Sponsor – eNett
BEST TRAVEL CONSULTANT LEISURE
Rebecca Knowles – Flight Centre Devonport
Sponsor – Royal Caribbean International
BEST TRAVEL CONSULTANT CORPORATE
Veronika Panzic – Show Group Enterprise
Sponsor – Qatar Airways
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY MANAGER – LEISURE SINGLE LOCATION
Debbi Ashes – Helloworld Travel Lane Cove
Sponsor – Virgin Australia
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY MANAGER – LEISURE MULTI LOCATION
Bridie Clarke italktravel & cruise East Doncaster, Fountain Gate & Mt Waverley
Sponsor – World’s Leading Cruise Lines
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY MANAGER – CORPORATE SINGLE LOCATION
Christopher Goddard – Maxim’s Travel
Sponsor – Virgin Australia
BEST MOBILE TRAVEL ADVISOR
Kathy Millett – TravelManagers
Sponsor – Wendy Wu Tours
YOUNG AGENT OF THE YEAR
Annabel Edgecombe – Flight Centre Indooroopilly
Sponsor – South African Tourism
BEST DOMESTIC AIRLINE
Virgin Australia
Sponsor – Air Tickets
BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE – ONLINE
Air New Zealand
Sponsor – The Travel Corporation
BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE – OFFLINE
Lufthansa German Airlines
Sponsor – Consolidated Travel
BEST CRUISE OPERATOR – DOMESTIC DEPLOYMENT
Royal Caribbean International
Sponsor – Travellers Choice
BEST CRUISE OPERATOR – INTERNATIONAL DEPLOYMENT
Princess Cruises
Sponsor – MTA Mobile Travel Agents
BEST RIVER CRUISE OPERATOR
APT
Sponsor – Helloworld Travel
BEST TOUR OPERATOR – DOMESTIC
APT
Sponsor – Gow Gates Insurance Brokers
BEST TOUR OPERATOR – INTERNATIONAL
Bunnik Tours
Sponsor – CVFR Consolidated Travel Services
BEST CAR/CAMPERVAN RENTAL OPERATION
Avis Australia
Sponsor – Expedia TAAP
BEST TOURIST OFFICE – INTERNATIONAL
Tourism New Zealand
Sponsor – Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre
BEST SPECIALTY WHOLESALER
Entire Travel Group
Sponsor – Travel Trade Recruitment
BEST WHOLESALER – AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT
Qantas Holidays & Viva! Holidays
Sponsor – AccorHotels
BEST WHOLESALER – INTERNATIONAL PRODUCT
Adventure World Travel
Sponsor – Tourism Authority Thailand
BEST AGENCY SUPPORT SERVICE
Air Tickets
Sponsor – American Express
BEST SALES EXECUTIVE – AIR
Lisa Manera – Finnair
Sponsor – Sabre Travel Network
BEST SALES EXECUTIVE – CRUISE
Richard Waugh – P&O Cruises
Sponsor – Creative Cruising
BEST SALES EXECUTIVE – LAND
Kat Nitarski – On The Go Tours
Sponsor – Royal Caribbean International
BEST TRAVEL WRITER
Catherine Marshall
Sponsor – World’s Leading Cruise Lines
BEST TRAVEL AGENT TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
Tramada Systems – New Distribution Capability
Sponsor – CoverMore Travel Insurance
EMIRATES TRAVEL CONSULTANT SCHOLARSHIP
Laura Jago – Helloworld Travel Kotara
Sponsor – Emirates
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: RETAIL TRAVEL AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Bicton Travel
Sponsor – APT
THE CATO AWARDS … the Winners are:
CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR – GROUP TOURING
Michelle Barker – Jayes Travel
Sponsor – G Adventures, Globus, Intrepid Travel, The Travel Corporation
CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR – ADVENTURE
Leanne Flanagan Smith – Back Track Adventures
Sponsor – G Adventures, Globus, Intrepid Travel, The Travel Corporation
CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR – F.I.T
Michelle Barker – Jayes Travel
Sponsor – G Adventures, Globus, Intrepid Travel, The Travel Corporation
CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR – SKI
Jenny Tucker – Travel Partners
Sponsor – G Adventures, Globus, Intrepid Travel, The Travel Corporation
