The Australia Federation of Travel Agents has recognised the industry’s ‘best of the best’ at the International Convention Centre Sydney, Darling Harbour.
AFTA Chief Executive Jayson Westbury paid homage to the trade, saying the NTIA was a platform to not only recognise excellence but to “reconnect and come together as an industry.”
“It’s nights like to tonight when we have the chance to call out people, the businesses the enterprises and indeed the entrepreneurship that makes the travel industry so exciting,” Westbury said.
Before the awards presentation commenced, Westbury announced that Mike Thompson had been re-elected as AFTA’s Chairman for a 10th year. The AFTA boss also recognised Spiros Alysandratos – the Founder and CEO of Consolidated Travel Group – with the Lifetime Achievement award.
Among winners were the mother daughter duo from Helloworld Travel Lane Cove, with Debbi Ashes collecting the gong for Best Travel Agency Manager – Retail Single Location and Courtney Ashes taking out Young Agent of the Year.
The NTIA 2018 winners list included:
Young Agent of the Year – Courtney Ashes, Helloworld Travel Lane Cove, NSW
Best Travel Consultant – Retail – Giselle Pennington, Spencer Travel Southside, NSW
Best Travel Consultant – Corporate – Nicole Hay, Show Group Enterprise, NSW
Best Registered Travel Industry Training Institution – Cornerstone Learning and Development
Best Hotel / Resort Group – Club Med
Best Tour Operator – Domestic – APT
Best Wholesaler – Australian Product – Qantas Holidays/Viva! Holidays
Best Travel Agency Manager – Retail Single Location – Debbi Ashes, Helloworld Travel Lane Cove, NSW
Best Travel Agency Manager – Corporate Single Location – Jamie Maclean, Corporate Travel Cathedral Place, QLD
Best Travel Agency Manager – Retail Multi Location – Renee Nightingale, Helloworld Travel Albury, Wangaratta & Wodonga, NSW/VIC
Best Travel Agency Manager – Corporate Multi Location – Andre Moran, Corporate Travel Management, QLD
Best Domestics Airline – Qantas
Best Car/Canpervan Rental Operator – AVIS
Best Travel Agency- Retail Single Location – Main Beach Travel
Best Travel Agency – Retail Multi Location – Phil Hoffmann Travel
Best Travel Broker Network – MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
Best Tour Operator – International – Intrepid Travel
Best Wholesaler – International Product – Adventure World
Best Cruise Operator – Domestic Deployment – Royal Caribbean International
Best Sales Executive – Industry Supplier – Michelle Nickelson, Air New Zealand, QLD
Best Agency Support Service – Air Tickets
Best Tourist Office – International – Tourism New Zealand
Best Airline International – Off-Line – Finnair
Best Airline International- On-Line – Singapore Airlines
Best River Cruise Operator – APT
Best Cruise Operator – International Deployment – Royal Caribbean International
Best Travel Agency – Corporate Single Location – DBT Corporate Travel
Best Travel Agency – Corporate Multi Location – Stage & Screen Travel Services
Best Business Events Travel Agency – Event Travel Management
Best National Travel Management Company – Corporate Travel Management
Best Travel Agent Technology Innovation – Smart Trips – Smartphone Application
Best Travel Writer – Jocelyn Pride
Best Online Travel Agency – flybuys Travel – www.flybuystravel.com.au
Best Specialty Wholesaler – Bench Africa
Emirates Travel Consultant Scholarships – Rachel Husoy Cleary, Noosa Travel, QLD
People’s Choice Retail Travel Agency of the Year – Bicton Travel, WA
Best Non Branded Travel Agency Group – Helloworld Business Travel
Best Travel Agency Group (50 stores or more) – Flight Centre