The finalists for the 2025 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) have been unveiled, marking one of the most competitive contests in recent memory, according to the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). This year’s competition saw independent university-level assessors meticulously evaluate each nominee’s video or written submission, ultimately selecting the top five scoring entries in each category.
Particularly intense was the race for awards such as Most Outstanding Sales Executive across various sectors including Air, Cruise, Tour Operator, and Wholesaler. These categories required an additional round of judging due to the exceptional quality of submissions. In a testament to the high standards, seven categories ended in ties, resulting in six finalists being declared instead of the usual five.
Close Calls and High Stakes
The business categories were no less competitive. The Sustainability Award – ATIA Accredited Agency, for instance, saw a mere 5.5-point difference between the first and twelfth places. This underscores the increasing importance of sustainability initiatives in the travel industry, driven by consumer demand for more responsible travel options.
The winners will be celebrated at the NTIA 2025 ceremony on October 18 at The Star in Brisbane, following the Beyond Borders Summit. ATIA CEO Dean Long expressed his admiration for the high calibre of this year’s submissions, stating, “The closeness of the scoring – in some cases only a handful of points between finalists – speaks to the exceptional talent, innovation, and dedication driving our industry forward.”
Expert Insights and Industry Trends
One of NTIA’s independent assessors noted the inspiration drawn from the nominees, highlighting their innovation, resilience, and passion. “Each entry reflected a deep commitment to excellence, customer service, and strengthening the industry’s future,” they remarked. This sentiment captures the essence of the travel industry’s evolution in recent years, with a focus on excellence and sustainability.
The NTIA has long been a barometer for industry trends, and this year’s finalists reflect a sector that is both robust and forward-thinking. With categories ranging from Mobile/Home Based Travel Advisor to Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Program, the awards cover a comprehensive spectrum of the travel industry.
Finalists and Categories
Judged Categories
- Mobile/Home Based Travel Advisor: Alison McGovern, Amanda Brady, Joanne Agius, Karen Coates, Melanie Carter, Rachel Steele
- Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager: Christine Bottrell, Kerby Hasler, Michael Schischka, Michelle Everson, Sonia Jones
- Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Corporate: Greg Lazzaro, Kirsty Gilmour, Pippa Faure-Geors, Ryan Jones, Sarah Hackett
- Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Leisure: Fiona O’Dowd, Kai Floto, Lauren Zanesco, Mandi Forrester-Jones, Samantha Renvoye
- Rookie of the Year: Alex Pilarski, Anabella Nikolic, Belinda Thomas, Daniel Tilyard, Grace Enchelmaier
- Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Air: Aidan Truscott, Kelly Lachker, Kevin Peng, Michelle McLennan, Nicole Laurie
- Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Cruise: Barbara Baron, Jodi Watson, Lauren Zischke, Moreshnie Pather, Ramon Drew
- Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Tour Operator: Alexa Papoulias, Jo Leckie, Kat Nitarski, Madison Baier, Rebecca Setchell
- Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Wholesaler: Andrea Morgan, Jackie Gordon, Kim Knight, Simone Barnett, Yvette Montell
- Most Outstanding Employee Engagement and Recruitment Program: APT Travel Group, ATPI Australia, Clean Cruising, Helloworld Pursers Travel Group, TravelManagers Australia
- Most Outstanding Online Travel Agency: Click and Trip, Ignite Travel Group, Luxury Escapes, MyHoliday2, Webjet
- Most Outstanding Corporate Travel Agency – Group Travel: ATPI Events, DIRECTIONS Travel, FCM Meeting & Events, Show Group, TAG, The Incentive Lab
- Most Outstanding Australian-Owned Travel Management Company: CT Connections, EnPerSo Business Travel, DIRECTIONS Travel, JC Travel Professionals Pty Ltd, Travel Beyond Group Pty Ltd
- Most Outstanding Global Travel Management Company: American Express Global Business Travel, ATPI Australia, Corporate Travel Management (CTM), FCM Travel, Gray Dawes Travel
- Most Outstanding Independent Leisure Travel Agency: Amplify – Accessible Travel Specialists, Back Track Adventures, Clean Cruising, Home & Afar Travel, Jetsetter Travel, Tailor Made Travel (Mt Gambier)
- Most Outstanding Branded Leisure Travel Agency: Gallivanter Travel, Helloworld Travel Strathpine, Hunter Travel Group Pty Ltd, Phil Hoffmann Travel, RAA Travel, Wolf & Turner Travel Associates
- Sustainability Award – ATIA Accredited Agency: American Express Global Business Travel, ATPI Australia, BCD Travel, Clean Cruising, Reho Travel, TAG
- Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network: 1000 Mile Travel Group, Connected Travel, Envoyage, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents, Travelglobe, TravelManagers Australia
- Most Outstanding Branded Travel Agency Group: Flight Centre Brand, Helloworld Travel, itravel, Travel Associates
- Most Outstanding Travel Agency Network: Australian Travel Agents Co-operative Ltd (ATAC), CT Partners, itravel, Magellan Travel, Travellers Choice
- Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Specialised: 50 Degrees North, AAT Kings, Albatross Tours, Back-Roads Touring, Vietnam Travel & Cruise, Wide Eyed Tours & Travel
- Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Global: APT Luxury Travel, G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, TTC Tour Brands
- Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Product / Service: Cruiseco, DriveAway, Expedia TAAP, Room-Res, Viva Holidays
- Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Destination / Experience: Adventure World, ANZCRO, Bench Africa, Sno’n’Ski Holidays, The Africa Safari Co.
- Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Program: Connected Travel, Council of Australian Tour Operators, Cruise Lines International Association – Australasia, Helloworld Limited, RAA Travel
- Sustainability Award – Supplier: 50 Degrees North, G Adventures, Hurtigruten, Intrepid Travel, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
- Innovation in Travel Support Services: Amadeus, Customer Learning Services, Cover-More Travel Insurance, Travel Insurance, CVFR Travel Group, CVFR Payments, HQ by itravel, HQ by itravel, nib Travel, Partnering for Progress: Elevating the Agent Channel, PassportCard Travel Insurance, PassportCard Travel Insurance
- Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign – ATIA Accredited Agency: Cruiseabout, Cruise Mega Sail, Flight Centre, 100% Play – Flight Centre x Tourism New Zealand x Minecraft, Helloworld Travel NYC with Love and Liberty in Partnership with New York City Tourism and Conventions and Air New Zealand, Ignite Travel Group, Discover Paradise in the Cook Islands, RAA Travel, It pays to cruise with RAA
- Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign – Supplier / Tourism Office: Contiki, Live The Legend, Destination Canada, Radical Ambassadors Campaign with KarryOn, Intrepid Travel, Only Intrepid, Trafalgar Tours, Tour Differently, Virgin Australia, Business Rewards Campaign
Popularly Voted Categories
- Most Popular Tourism Office: Brand USA, Destination Canada – Australia, Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania, Tourism Fiji, Tourism New Zealand | Manaakitanga Aotearoa
- Most Popular Accommodation Group / Chain: Club Med, Discovery Parks & Resorts (G’day Group), Minor Hotels Australasia, Outrigger Resorts & Hotels, Quest Apartment Hotels
- Most Popular Airline – Online: Air New Zealand, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Australia
- Most Popular Airline – Offline: Finnair, Gulf Air, Lufthansa Group, RwandAir
- Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator: National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Viking
- Most Popular River Cruise Operator: AmaWaterways, APT Luxury Travel, Avalon Waterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Viking
- Most Popular Car Rental Operator: AVIS, Budget Australia, East Coast Car Rentals, Hertz, Thrifty
- Most Popular Reservations/Groups Team: ANZCRO, APT Travel Group, Bunnik Tours, Room-Res.com, Viking
The announcement of the finalists for the NTIA’s popularly voted categories last week further highlights the diverse and dynamic nature of the travel industry. For more information on the National Travel Industry Awards 2025, interested parties are encouraged to visit the official website.
As the industry eagerly anticipates the awards ceremony, the NTIA continues to serve as a beacon of excellence, recognizing the achievements and innovations that propel the travel sector forward.
