Drum roll please… the first finalists for NTIA 2024 (National Travel Industry Awards) have been announced.
Independent university-level assessors evaluated all submissions, with the top five in each category advancing to the finalist stage. In some categories, up to nine finalists were recognised due to ties.
Competitive categories include Most Outstanding Sales Executive Cruise (31 nominees), Land Supply (29 nominees), and Travel Agency Manager (25 nominees).
Finalists for business categories and the People’s Choice Award are yet to be revealed.
NTIA 2024, supported by Singapore Airlines, will take place on 26 October at ICC Sydney, with the Beyond Borders Summit set for 25 October. In 2023, the NTIA gala took place in Melbourne. Read our wrap of that event here.
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) urges interested parties to secure tickets to both events as soon as possible at bit.ly/NTIAtickets and bit.ly/beyondborderstickets.
“NTIA is always highly competitive and the increasing standard of submissions year-on-year reflects a travel industry that continues to advance in delivering excellence,” ATIA CEO Dean Long said.
“Congratulations to all our NTIA Finalists named so far. Our independent assessors had the challenging task of evaluating the impressive submissions from professionals across the Australian travel industry.
“Travel really is full of the most incredible professionals.”
The first 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
The full list of NTIA 2024 finalists is also available here.
In late July, those in the running for NTIA’s ‘Most Outstanding’ judged categories were announced, with the full list of nominees – including for the top travel agent awards – revealed.
A record 1,715 peer nominations were received across 35 award categories for NTIA 2024.
