TravelManagers’ Lisa Malnar and Helloworld Travel Darwin’s Rachel Turner recently staged their biggest and most successful Darwin Travel Festival to date, drawing more than 1,000 attendees to hear the latest from 35 suppliers representing 55-plus brands.
Held on 29 March, Darwin Travel Festival 2025 marked the third consecutive event from TravelManagers personal travel manager (PTM) Lisa Malnar and Helloworld Travel Darwin Owner-Manager Rachel Turner.
Despite being competitors, the duo shares a mutual vision to deliver the Northern Territory’s premier travel expo.
Malnar said: “This year’s festival was our biggest and most successful edition yet, drawing well over a thousand Territorians who were eager to take advantage of the amazing travel deals, prizes and expertise on offer.”
Festival attendees met with industry experts and had the opportunity to snap up holiday deals and major giveaways, adding up to $20,000 in total prizes from the likes of Qantas, Airnorth, Island Explorer Holidays and Elephant Hills.
New suppliers included those representing travel experiences in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, further expanding the event’s international scope.
Sponsored by Travel Gateway, AANT and Novotel Darwin Airport (also the host venue), the event was also attended by NT Tourism Minister Marie-Clare Boothby, underscoring the Darwin Travel Festival’s importance in fostering tourism growth and strengthening industry partnerships.
“We are thrilled with the results of this year’s festival. It’s a labour of love that Rachel and I are committed to continuing to offer Territorians in the years to come,” Malnar said.
“We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from locals and visiting suppliers alike, which has helped us to create a must-attend event that we are aiming to make even bigger and better in 2026!”
