The finalists for the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards have been revealed, with 13 businesses in contention for the travel agency category award.
Now in its 26th year, the Australian Small Business Champion Awards recognise the achievements and economic, social and cultural contribution of 2.5 million small businesses around the country – and this year’s awards are the biggest to date, with a record number of entries received.
Within the travel agency and tourism categories alone, there were more than 5,500 submissions. Of those entrants, less than 30 made the cut as finalists.
But there can only be one winner per category. And this year’s 13 travel agency category finalists are:
- Armani Travel (NSW)
- Cherrybrook Travel (NSW)
- Global Travel Group (NSW)
- I Love Cruising with Kelly (NSW)
- itravel with sekha (NSW)
- Riverland Travel (NSW)
- Sydney Harbour Days (NSW)
- Legacy Journeys (QLD)
- MyHoliday2 (QLD)
- Sonia Jones Travel (QLD)
- Travel Moore (VIC)
- Travel Project (VIC)
- Maestro Global Travel
In the tourism category, the 14 finalists are:
- Barney Creek Vineyard Cottages (NSW)
- Charter Boat Central (NSW)
- Dido’s Place (NSW)
- Exclusive Ventures (NSW)
- Golf & Tours (NSW)
- Heart of Hunter Tours (NSW)
- Hunter Valley Tours (NSW)
- Kalinya Estate (NSW)
- Newcastle Ghost Tours (NSW)
- PepperGreen Estate (NSW)
- Riverfun Houseboats (NSW)
- The William Inglis Hotel (NSW)
- Travengers AU (QLD)
- Werriberri (SA)
“I believe the resilience of Australia’s small business community is more evident today than ever before in recent memory, and it is absolutely deserving of national recognition,” said Steve Loe, Founder of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, which organises the awards.
“The remarkable quantity and quality of submissions we received this year is testament to the triumphant spirit of so many small business operators – absolutely including those from travel industries.
“We’re very much looking forward to celebrating the very best of this nation’s small business people in spectacular style this April.”
The Australian Small Business Champion Awards encompass over 100 categories across the retail, services, and manufacturing industries. They’re free to enter and and judged by independent, small business experts.
This year’s awards gala will take place over two nights on 12 and 13 April 2024. To be held at The Star in Sydney, they will be hosted by Nine presenter and journalist, Jayne Azzopardi,and feature entertainment by singers Dami Im, Harrison Craig, Johnny Manuel and star of the recent Australian production of Mary Poppins, Stefanie Jones.
A recent survey by Precedent Productions revealed that 71 per cent of small business owners feel Aussie small businesses are taxed excessively, while 68 per cent believe current laws make success challenging.
For more information about the awards, and to view all the finalists, click here.
For more travel agency and industry winners, check out our wrap of the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIAs) – an epic celebration of everything we love about working in travel.
