Forget the Logies… the finalists in the ‘Voted Categories’ at NTIA 2024 (National Travel Industry Awards) have been revealed, including those in the running for the Most Popular categories, the Most Outstanding Tour Operators and Wholesalers awards, and other business categories.
According to the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), a record 8,266 votes determined the finalists for these categories at the travel industry’s biggest awards.
The top five nominees in each category advanced as finalists, with the winners for every award to be announced during the NTIA 2024 ceremony on 26 October at ICC Sydney.
The gala will follow the Beyond Borders Summit, which features insights from the ATIA board, leadership team and other prominent speakers, focusing on innovation, connections and industry elevation.
The first finalists for NTIA 2024 were unveiled last week, with competitive categories including Most Outstanding Sales Executive Cruise (31 nominees), Land Supply (29 nominees), and Travel Agency Manager (25 nominees).
“Thank you to everyone who participated in the voting process and it’s great to have a record number of votes for these categories,” ATIA CEO Dean Long said.
“It’s inspiring to see the passion and commitment within our industry, and the high calibre of finalists reflects the exceptional talent and dedication of our travel professionals.
“We are excited to celebrate these finalists at NTIA 2024 and acknowledge their contributions to our vibrant industry.”
ATIA urges interested parties to secure tickets to NTIA 2024’s awards night and the Beyond Borders Summit quickly at bit.ly/NTIAtickets and bit.ly/beyondborderstickets.
List of NTIA 2024 finalists:
Category 1 – Most Outstanding Mobile / Home Based Travel Advisor
Donna Jones – MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Julianne Gazal-Rizk – TravelManagers Australia
Margy Stimson – MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Melanie Whyte – TravelManagers Australia
Sarah Fenton – MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Tracey Flower – MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Category 2 – Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager
Baris Celik, TAG
Leah Mullen, Tailor Made Travel Mt Gambier
Michelle Hartland, Champagne Travel
Rebecca McHenry, itravel Liverpool
Rosie Loxley, Flight Centre
Sonia Jones, Sonia Jones Travel
Category 3 – Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Corporate
Darren Swinton – Show Group
Emma Bradbury – Show Group
Jaime Mcleod – Mobilise Travel
Natasha Benson – Stage and Screen Travel
Tom Simak – American Express Global Business Travel
Category 4 – Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Leisure
Blake Powell – Eclipse Travel
Emma Smith – Back Track Adventures
Lachlan Woodland – InsideJapan Tours
Pip Smith – Helloworld Toowoomba CBD
Samantha Renvoye – Clean Cruising
Category 5 – Rookie of the Year
Ashley Nabarro, TAG
Charlotte Lloyd, American Express Global Business Travel
Ella Uebergang, Windsong Travel
Kim Lodington, Show Group
Kyle Barney, Gallivanter Travel
Rachel Horsburgh, RACQ Travel
Category 6 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Air
Aidan Truscott, Singapore Airlines
Kelly Lachker, Qatar Airways
Lorna Groves, Lufthansa Group
Peter Lombardi, Lufthansa Group
Richard Carrick, United Airlines
Robin Woods, Qantas
Category 7 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Cruise
Barbara Baron – APT Travel Group
Cameron McDonell – Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic
Elsa McLean – Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Joshua Galea – Avalon Waterways
Sara Puglia – Silversea
Category 8 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Land Supply (Tour Operator)
Alexa Papoulias, Abercrombie & Kent
Anji Tierney, Globus Family of Brands
Carla Dabit, The Travel Corporation – TTC Tour Brands
Jodi Watson, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
John McCarten, On the Go Tours
Michelle Daniels, Evolution Travel Collective
Rebecca Setchell, AAT Kings
Category 8 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Wholesaler
Andrea Morgan, Adventure World
Fraser Tong, DriveAway
Jackie Gordon, Viva Holidays, Readyrooms, Cruiseco
Simone Barnett, Expedia TAAP
Suzie Goumas, DriveAway
Category 8 – Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Hotels / Car Hire
Andrew Hodson – Accor Pacific
Bianca Phillis – IHG Hotels & Resorts
Carmen Olmedo – Marriott International
Michelle Nickelson – Club Med
Rebecca Simpson – Hertz Australia
Category 21 – Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Specialised
50 Degrees North
AAT Kings Tours
Albatross Tours
InsideJapan
Wide Eyed Tours
Category 22 – Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Global
APT
G Adventures
Globus
Intrepid Travel
TTC Tour Brands (Trafalgar / Insight / Contiki)
Category 23 – Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Product / Service
BKB Holidays
Cruiseco
DriveAway
Entire Travel Group
Expedia TAAP
Stuba
Viva Holidays
Category 24 – Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Destination / Experience
Adventure World
ANZCRO
Bench Africa
The Africa Safari Co
Sno’n’ski
Category 25 – Most Popular Tourism Office
Destination Canada
Hawai’i Tourism Oceania
Tourism Fiji
Tourism New Zealand | Manaakitanga Aotearoa
Travel South USA
Category 26 – Most Popular Accommodation Group / Chain
Accor
Club Med
IHG Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
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
Air France KLM Group
Finnair
Lufthansa Group
Oman Air
Category 29 – Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator
APT
Norwegian Cruise Line
PONANT
Princess Cruises
Viking
Category 30 – Most Popular River Cruise Operator
APT
Avalon Waterways
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Viking
Category 31 – Most Popular Car Rental Operator
Avis
Budget
East Coast Car Rentals
Hertz Australia
The list of NTIA 2024 finalists is also available at atia.travel/NTIA2024.
A record 1,715 peer nominations were received across 35 award categories for NTIA 2024.
