Australia's travel industry celebrates its night of nights
Tonight almost 1000 travel agents and suppliers gathered for the annual National Travel Industry Awards, once again held at the Sydney Westin Hotel.
The eagerly anticipated night of nights saw the industry celebrate top achievers in a range of categories, with huge interest in the winners announced tonight by MC Jules Lund.
AFTA ceo Jayson Westbury said it was a great occasion to celebrate after a year in which travel agents have truly proved their worth to the travelling public, dealing with a spate of disasters from which the industry continues to recover.
Diehards are continuing to celebrate at the 'afta' party which is expected to continue into the early hours of the morning.
The winners from tonight were:
Rookie of the Year - Agent: Katrina Tasker, Escape Travel Chatswood
Best Travel Consultant - Retail: Anne Westby, Travelcentre Bendigo
Best Travel Agency Retail - Single Location: Harvey World Travel Lane Cove NSW
Best Travel Agency Retail - Multi Location: Phil Hoffmann Travel
Best Travel Consultant - Corporate: Hannah Moore, The Travel Authority
Best Travel Agency Corporate - Multi Location: Globetrotter Corporate Travel
Best Travel Agency Corporate - Single Location: Spencer Travel
Best Conference & Incentive Travel Agency: etm group
Best National Corporate Travel Management Company: Corporate Travel Management
Best Innovation in Marketing - Retail Agency: Phil Hoffmann Travel
Best Travel Writer: Stephen Scourfield, The West Australian
Best Registered Travel Industry Training Institution: Brisbane North Institute of TAFE
Best Hotel/Resort - Australian Property: Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa
Best Hotel/Resort Group: Accor
Best Agency Support Service: Air Tickets
Best Tourist Office - National: Tourism Queensland
Best Tourist Office - International: Tourism New Zealand
Rookie of the Year - Industry Supplier: Christian Coronica, AAT Kings
Best Sales Executive - Industry Supplier: Blake Muir, Topdeck
Best Car/Campervan Rental Operator: Hertz
Best Tour Operator - International: Insight Vacations
Best Tour Operator - Domestic: AAT Kings
Best Cruise Operator - International Based Operation: APT
Best Cruise Operator - Australian Based Operation: Princess Cruises
Best Wholesaler - International Product: Creative Holidays
Best Wholesaler - Australian Product: Qantas Holidays & Viva! Holidays
Best Domestic Airline: Qantas Airways
Best International Airline - Off-Line: Lufthansa German Airlines
Best International Airline - On-Line: Singapore Airlines
Best Agency Group [100 stores or more]: Travelscene American Express
More details and lots of exclusive pictures from the event in Monday's Travel Daily and at www.traveldaily.com.au/photos.
