Cruise lines shone at the Australian National Travel Industry’s awards this weekend when 1,300 agents gathered at Sydney’s International Convention Centre for the ATIA awards.
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak industry body that represents the interests of travel professionals and businesses, formerly know as AFTA.
The Association recently announced a series of reforms that indicate good news for consumers. One big change coming in 2025 is a replacement for the consumer compensation scheme that was disbanded several years ago.
A full proposal will be put forward in 2025, allowing for industry-wide consultation.
“Over the next 12 months, we’re going to have an open and competitive process to build a compensation scheme that protects the consumers and businesses that are ATIA-accredited,” ATIA CEO Dean Long told reporters at a recent conference.
Meanwhile, last night’s huge awards event saw 180 videos and 170 written entries across 24 categories.
Viking stole the show as the best ocean cruise line, and River Cruise Collective member Uniworld was voted best on the rivers.
Cruise Lines International Association was voted Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Institution, a tribute to Joel Katz Head of International Training & Development at CLIA
Barbara Baron of the APT Group won the Most Outstanding Sales Executive in Cruise and Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic won the Sustainability Award.
The most Popular Airline was Singapore Airlines and the Most Outstanding Online Travel Agency was Luxury Escapes.
And a regular for Cruise&Travel readers, Bicton Travel, featured under the Most Outstanding Leisure Travel Agency award.
Here’s the best of the best:
Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager: Rosie Loxley, Flight CentreMost Outstanding Mobile/Home-Based
Travel Advisor: Donna Jones, MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Institution: Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
Most Popular Accommodation Group/Chain: Club Med
Most Outstanding Consumer Travel Journalist: Jessica Lockhart
Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Cruise: Barbara Baron, APT Group
Most Popular Tourism Office: Tourism New NZ | Manaakitanga Aotearoa
Most Popular Airline offline: Lufthansa Group
Sustainability Award: Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic
Most Popular Airline – Online: Singapore Airlines
Most Popular River Cruise Operator: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator: Viking
Most Outstanding Online Travel Agency: Luxury Escapes
Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Global: Intrepid