The travel industry winners of the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards have been announced, with Sonia Jones Travel of Ashgrove in Queensland named winner of the 2024 Travel Agency category.
Beyond the travel agency category, Travengers AU from Manly, NSW, clinched the top spot in the Tourism category, recognised for connecting young autistic and neurodivergent adults across Australia through tailored travel and social groups.
Announced at a special awards gala over two nights last weekend at Sydney’s The Star, each winner was presented with a custom trophy and certificate, elevating their status as leading figures in the travel sector.
Celebrating its 26th year, the Australian Small Business Champion Awards saw a record number of entries, spotlighting the exceptional contributions of small businesses across retail, services, and manufacturing sectors nationwide.
The Australian Small Business Champion Awards, now in its 26th year, continues to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the nation’s 2.5 million small businesses, showcasing the best in retail, services, and manufacturing. This year saw a record number of entries, making it the most successful year yet.
Steve Loe, Awards Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, which manages the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, said more than 5,500 entries from urban, suburban and rural towns in every state and territory were submitted for this year’s event.
“This year’s submissions spoke volumes of the resilience of Australia’s small business sector which is enduring what may be the toughest period in recent memory with a number of challenges associated with increased expenses and operating costs, staff hire, productivity and the overall ongoing high cost of living,” he said.
“Of course, some in the travel industry are also still enduring impacts of Covid-19 to-boot.
“Now more than ever is the time to time to shine a spotlight on Australia’s hardworking small businesspeople and to recognise their invaluable contributions to their communities and to the nation as a whole.”
Loe added that running a small business today takes “steadfast commitment, leadership, savviness, creativity, people skills, vision, social consciousness and a spirited drive”.
Attended by over 2,000 small business people, this year’s awards gala was hosted by Nine presenter Jayne Azzopardi and featured entertainment by Dami Im, Harrison Craig, Johnny Manuel and Stefanie Jones.
For a full list of the award winners, visit businesschampions.com.au.
Check out the 13 businesses that were in contention for the travel agency category award.
For more travel agency winners, check out our wrap of the 2023 NTIAs.