The travel industry has spoken. More than 8,300 votes were cast to decide the finalists in the 12 popularly voted categories of the 2025 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) – the biggest response in the event’s history.
The results are in, and the shortlist showcases the breadth of talent across tour operators, wholesalers, tourism boards, airlines, accommodation groups, and more.
ATIA CEO Dean Long said the record engagement highlighted just how passionate the industry remains about celebrating its best and brightest.
“Once again, we’ve seen a record turnout for the voting process, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to have their say,” Long said. “This year’s finalists truly showcase the remarkable skill, innovation and dedication of our travel professionals.”
The celebrations will come to a head on 18 October at The Star Brisbane, when the winners are announced at the NTIA Gala. The night follows the Beyond Borders Summit on 17 October, which brings together ATIA’s leadership team and top industry speakers for a day of ideas, innovation, and connections – setting the stage for the biggest weekend on the travel calendar.
Here are the finalists for the 2025 NTIA popularly voted categories:
Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Specialised
50 Degrees North
AAT Kings
Albatross Tours
Back-Roads Touring
Vietnam Travel & Cruise
Wide Eyed Tours & Travel
Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Global
APT Luxury Travel
G Adventures
Intrepid Travel
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
TTC Tour Brands
Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Product / Service
Cruiseco
DriveAway
Expedia TAAP
Room-Res
Viva Holidays
Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Destination / Experience
Adventure World
ANZCRO
Bench Africa
Sno’n’Ski Holidays
The Africa Safari Co.
Most Popular Tourism Office
Brand USA
Destination Canada – Australia
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania
Tourism Fiji
Tourism New Zealand | Manaakitanga Aotearoa
Most Popular Accommodation Group / Chain
Club Med
Discovery Parks & Resorts (G’day Group)
Minor Hotels Australasia
Outrigger Resorts & Hotels
Quest Apartment Hotels
Most Popular Airline – Online
Air New Zealand
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
Virgin Australia
Most Popular Airline – Offline
Finnair
Gulf Air
Lufthansa Group
RwandAir
Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator
National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Viking
Most Popular River Cruise Operator
AmaWaterways
APT Luxury Travel
Avalon Waterways
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Viking
Most Popular Car Rental Operator
AVIS
Budget Australia
East Coast Car Rentals
Hertz
Thrifty
Most Popular Reservations/Groups Team
ANZCRO
APT Travel Group
Bunnik Tours
Room-Res.com
Viking
With the stage set, October promises to be a milestone moment for Australia’s travel community – and one of the most hotly contested NTIAs yet.
