Another year, another AFTA National Travel Industry Awards.

The Nibbler were amongst those who frocked up for this year’s NTIA’s at the Dockside Pavilion Darling Harbour on Saturday night to rub shoulders with more than 1200 of our closest industry friends.

AFTA ceo Jayson Westbury strutted on stage to one of his favourite tunes and confirmed the gala awards would be held in the same venue in 2016, before moving on to the bigger and brand new ICC Convention Centre in 2017.

Westbury also noted the lack of Flight Centre and FCm executives in the room, repeating AFTA board member Skroo Turner’s comments that next year’s Flight Centre Global Gathering would not coincide with the industry’s night of nights.

Hosted by Andrew Daddo to ensure nominees (and winners) across 37 categories were given their time to shine, entertainment included Martha Marlow who performed Qantas’s new brand campaign tune “Feels like Home” and Rob Mills, who surprised crowds with his Michael Buble renditions.

However, the night was all about the winners, with some taking home the crown for the second and third year, as well as multiple winners across various categories.

Travellers Choice took home the big gong as best travel agency group in multiple locations, with ceo Christian Hunter saying the win was “a David versus Goliath win and a timely reminder that being a great retail travel group is not about size, it’s about service”.

While they didn’t go home with the top gong this year, helloworld had plenty of other reasons to celebrate, taking home 75% of the agent awards and 2 of agency awards. Goldman Travel also won three years in a row as best travel agency corporate (single location) and the recently-rebranded Insider Journeys took home the prize for best speciality wholesaler.

The full list of winners:

• Best Business Events Travel Agency  – Event Travel Management
• Best National Travel Management Company – FCm Travel Solutions
• Best Hotel\Resort Group – Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
• Best Travel Agency – Corporate Single Location – Goldman Travel Corporation
• Best Travel Agency – Corporate Multi Location – World Travel Professionals
• Best Travel Agency Manager – Corporate Multi Location – Kingsley Dawes from Carlson Wagonlit Travel
• Best Travel Agency Manager – Corporate Single Location – Kerby Reimer from Complete Business Travel
• Best Travel Consultant – corporate – Ric Pattaro from TravelManagers
• Best International Airline – Offline – Finnair
• Best International Airline – Online – Emirates
• Best Domestic Airline – Qantas Airways
• Rookie of the Year – Agent – Jonathan Pichaloff from helloworld Newcastle Corporate
• Best Travel Consultant – retail – Phil Smethurst from Bicton Travel 
• Best Travel Agency Manager – Retail Single Location – Uschi Howard from The Travel Authority Northern Beaches

• Best Travel Agency Manager – Retail Multi Location – Lisa Tjandi from helloworld Hunter Travel Group
• Best Travel Agency – Retail Single Location – Bicton Travel
• Best Travel Agency – Retail Multi Location – Helloworld Hunter Travel Group/RACT Travel
• Best Travel Agent Technology Innovation – Amadeus Ticket Changer by Amadeus IT Pacific
• Best Travel Writer – Louise Goldsbury
• Best Registered Travel Industry Training Institution – Franklyn Scholar
• Rookie of the Year – Supplier – Cam McDonell from G Adventures
• Best Sales Executive – Industry Supplier – Stella Hritis from Trafalgar
• Best Agency Support Service – Cover-More Travel Insurance 
• Best Tourist Office – International  – Dubai Tourism
• Best Car/Campervan Rental Operator – Hertz
• Best Online Travel Agency – Global Journeys
• Best Specialty Wholesaler – Insider Journeys
• Best Tour Operator – Domestic – APT
• Best Wholesaler – Australian Product – Infinity Holidays
• Best Tour Operator – International – APT
• Best Wholesaler – International Product – Infinity Holidays
• Best Cruise Ship – Domestic Deployment – Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice
• Best River Cruise Operator – APT
• Best Cruise Operator – International Deployment – Royal Caribbean International
• Emirates Travel Consultant Scholarship – Jamie-Lee Holloway from Helloworld Kotara
• Best Non-Branded Travel Agency Group – Magellan Travel Group
• Best Travel Agency Group – Travellers Choice

Travellers Choice – Best Travel Agency Group (100 Outlets or More)

Best Travel Agency Retail – Single Location – Bicton Travel – Sponsor Singapore Airlines

Jamie-Lee Holloway – Emirates Scholarship

Magellan Travel Group – Best Non Branded Agency Group

Travellers Choice

Event Travel Management

AFTA ceo Jayson Westbury kicks off proceedings

AVIS’ Russell Butler with Diane Butler

Emirates’ Rob Gurney

Damian Cerini & Oman Tourism Mona Tannous

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