The finalists for the most outstanding (judged) categories of the 2025 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) have been revealed, in what the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) describes as one of the closest-run competitions in long time.
According to ATIA, independent, university-level assessors reviewed each nominee’s video or written submission to identify the top five scoring entries per category.
Hotly contested awards – including Most Outstanding Sales Executive for Air, Cruise, Tour Operator and Wholesaler – required an additional round of judging, reflecting the exceptional quality of submissions and results over the past 12 months. In seven categories, ties saw a top six declared.
Business categories also saw tight scores. The Sustainability Award – ATIA Accredited Agency, for example, separated first and twelfth by just 5.5 points, highlighting the growing emphasis on initiatives that match consumer demand for purposeful travel.
Winners will be celebrated at NTIA 2025 on 18 October at The Star, Brisbane, the day after the Beyond Borders Summit.
“This year’s judged categories have been some of the most hotly contested we’ve ever seen at the NTIAs, with incredibly high-calibre submissions across the board, ATIA CEO Dean Long said.
“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. Every finalist should be proud to have stood out in such a competitive field.”
One of NTIA’s independent assessors said they were “inspired by the innovation, resilience and genuine passion shown by all the nominees and particularly the finalists”.
“Each entry reflected a deep commitment to excellence, customer service and strengthening the industry’s future,” they added.
“It was a privilege to help recognise the outstanding achievements that set this year’s finalists apart on the national stage.”
Finalists in the most outstanding (judged) categories
Category 01 – Mobile/Home Based Travel Advisor
- Alison McGovern , MTA Mobile Travel Agents
- Amanda Brady, TravelManagers Australia
- Joanne Agius, itravel
- Karen Coates, Dance Travel Dance Tours
- Melanie Carter, TravelManagers Australia
- Rachel Steele, Travel Society
Category 02 – Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager
- Christine Bottrell, Ashmore, Harris & James Travel Associates
- Kerby Hasler, Sanford Travel
- Michael Schischka, Mary Rossi Travel
- Michelle Everson, Jamison Travel
- Sonia Jones, Sonia Jones Travel
Category 03 – Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Corporate
- Greg Lazzaro, TAG
- Kirsty Gilmour, Show Group
- Pippa Faure-Geors, BCD Travel
- Ryan Jones, A List Travel
- Sarah Hackett, Sanford International Travel
Category 04 – Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Leisure
- Fiona O’Dowd, ATPI Cruise and Travel Terrigal
- Kai Floto, Southlands Travel and Cruise
- Lauren Zanesco, itravel Griffith
- Mandi Forrester-Jones, Viva Travel/Viva Destination Weddings
- Samantha Renvoye, Clean Cruising
Category 05 – Rookie of the Year
- Alex Pilarski, Travelglobe
- Anabella Nikolic, Jamison Travel
- Belinda Thomas, RAA
- Daniel Tilyard, Eclipse Travel
- Grace Enchelmaier, Global Journeys
Category 06 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Air
- Aidan Truscott, Singapore Airlines
- Kelly Lachker, Qatar Airways
- Kevin Peng, ANA – All Nippon Airways
- Michelle McLennan, Qantas Airways Ltd
- Nicole Laurie, Delta Air Lines
Category 07 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Cruise
- Barbara Baron, APT Travel Group
- Jodi Watson, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
- Lauren Zischke, APT Travel Group
- Moreshnie Pather, Princess Cruises
- Ramon Drew, Viking
Category 08 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Tour Operator
- Alexa Papoulias, Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group
- Jo Leckie, TTC Tour Brands
- Kat Nitarski, On The Go Tours
- Madison Baier, APT Travel Group
- Rebecca Setchell, AAT Kings
Category 09 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Wholesaler
- Andrea Morgan, Adventure World
- Jackie Gordon, Viva Holidays
- Kim Knight, Viva Holidays
- Simone Barnett, Expedia TAAP
- Yvette Montell, Inside Travel Group
Category 10 – Most Outstanding Employee Engagement and Recruitment Program
- APT Travel Group
- ATPI Australia
- Clean Cruising
- Helloworld Pursers Travel Group
- TravelManagers Australia
Category 11 – Most Outstanding Online Travel Agency
- Click and Trip
- Ignite Travel Group
- Luxury Escapes
- MyHoliday2
- Webjet
Category 12 – Most Outstanding Corporate Travel Agency – Group Travel
- ATPI Events
- DIRECTIONS Travel
- FCM Meeting & Events
- Show Group
- TAG
- The Incentive Lab
Category 13 – Most Outstanding Australian-Owned Travel Management Company
- CT Connections
- EnPerSo Business Travel
- DIRECTIONS Travel
- JC Travel Professionals Pty Ltd
- Travel Beyond Group Pty Ltd
Category 14 – Most Outstanding Global Travel Management Company
- American Express Global Business Travel
- ATPI Australia
- Corporate Travel Management (CTM)
- FCM Travel
- Gray Dawes Travel
Category 15 – 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)
Category 16 – 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
Category 17 – Sustainability Award – ATIA Accredited Agency
- American Express Global Business Travel
- ATPI Australia
- BCD Travel
- Clean Cruising
- Reho Travel
- TAG
Category 18 – Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network
- 1000 Mile Travel Group
- Connected Travel
- Envoyage
- MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
- Travelglobe
- TravelManagers Australia
Category 19 – Most Outstanding Branded Travel Agency Group
- Flight Centre Brand
- Helloworld Travel
- itravel
- Travel Associates
Category 20 – Most Outstanding Travel Agency Network
- Australian Travel Agents Co-operative Ltd (ATAC)
- CT Partners
- itravel
- Magellan Travel
- Travellers Choice
Category 21 – Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Specialised
- 50 Degrees North
- AAT Kings
- Albatross Tours
- Back-Roads Touring
- Vietnam Travel & Cruise
- Wide Eyed Tours & Travel
Category 22 – Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Global
- APT Luxury Travel
- G Adventures
- Intrepid Travel
- Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
- TTC Tour Brands
Category 23 – Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Product / Service
- Cruiseco
- DriveAway
- Expedia TAAP
- Room-Res
- Viva Holidays
Category 24 – Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Destination / Experience
- Adventure World
- ANZCRO
- Bench Africa
- Sno’n’Ski Holidays
- The Africa Safari Co.
Category 33 – Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Program
- Connected Travel
- Council of Australian Tour Operators
- Cruise Lines International Association – Australasia
- Helloworld Limited
- RAA Travel
Category 34 – Sustainability Award – Supplier
- 50 Degrees North
- G Adventures
- Hurtigruten
- Intrepid Travel
- National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Category 35 – 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
Category 36 – 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
Category 36 – 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
Finalists in the popularly voted categories
Category 25 – Most Popular Tourism Office
- Brand USA
- Destination Canada – Australia
- Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania
- Tourism Fiji
- Tourism New Zealand | Manaakitanga Aotearoa
Category 26 – Most Popular Accommodation Group / Chain
- Club Med
- Discovery Parks & Resorts (G’day Group)
- Minor Hotels Australasia
- Outrigger Resorts & Hotels
- Quest Apartment Hotels
Category 27 – Most Popular Airline – Online
- Air New Zealand
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Virgin Australia
Category 28 – Most Popular Airline – Offline
- Finnair
- Gulf Air
- Lufthansa Group
- RwandAir
Category 29 – Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator
- National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Princess Cruises
- Royal Caribbean
- Viking
Category 30 – Most Popular River Cruise Operator
- AmaWaterways
- APT Luxury Travel
- Avalon Waterways
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- Viking
Category 31 – Most Popular Car Rental Operator
- AVIS
- Budget Australia
- East Coast Car Rentals
- Hertz
- Thrifty
Category 32 – Most Popular Reservations/Groups Team
- ANZCRO
- APT Travel Group
- Bunnik Tours
- Room-Res.com
- Viking
Last week, ATIA revealed the finalists for the 2025 National Travel Industry Awards’ popularly voted categories. Check that out here.
For more info on the National Travel Industry Awards 2025, click here.
