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The time-honoured tradition of recognising excellence in the Australian travel industry is back with a bang — and a ballot box.

From today at precisely noon, voting officially opens for the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) 2025 — and it’s not just a popularity contest. Well, this part is.

In a democratic twist that would make even a Greek philosopher blush, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has flung open the doors of industry participation, inviting every travel professional nationwide to cast their votes. You can’t vote for yourself (cheeky), but you can certainly champion your competitors — or those rare unicorns who return your calls.

Voting will remain open until 5:00 pm AEST, Friday 8 August 2025, with the five top-voted companies in each category proceeding to finalist glory. These golden shortlists will be announced in mid-August, setting the stage for the industry’s biggest night of the year.

🎟️ Cast your vote here: www.atia.travel/ntia2025/voting.

A Record Year for Industry Recognition

This year, the NTIAs have received a record 1,720 peer nominations, a tally that underscores just how fiercely passionate and competitive the industry remains. If the sheer number of nominations is any indication, the spirit of travel is back, and it’s armed with voting slips and opinions.

The award structure has also been fine-tuned, with a streamlined 37 categories offering a sharper spotlight on individual and team excellence. Whether you’re a high-flying airline rep or a back-office reservation wizard, there’s a podium with your name.

New This Year: Spotlight on Trade Media

In an era of content overload, who still reads the trades? Plenty of us — and now, they’re finally getting their due.

For the first time this year, NTIA has introduced Category 37: Most Popular Travel Trade Publication, a nod to the industry’s faithful scribes, who keep us informed, inspired, and occasionally entertained.

The shortlisted nominees for the media crown are:

LATTE
Travel Monitor
Travel Weekly
Traveltalk

Naturally, each publication was self-nominated, but only one will rise to ink-stained glory.

Who Else is in the Running?

This year’s voted categories read like a roll call of who’s who in Aussie travel, from river cruises to car rentals, online airlines to specialised tour operators. Highlights include:

Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Specialised
Most Popular Airline – Offline (yes, that’s still a thing)
Most Popular Reservations/Groups Team — because unsung heroes deserve a spotlight, too.

You can view the complete list of nominees here: www.atia.travel/ntia2025/nominees.

And the Winners Are…

All eyes will turn to The Star Brisbane on Saturday, 18 October 2025, where the industry’s brightest stars will be crowned at the NTIA Gala — a night known for its sequins, speeches, and at least one mispronounced name. (We’re looking at you, “Whitsundaze Adventures.”)

The celebrations follow the Beyond Borders Summit, the day before, a conference that brings together cross-sector insights, innovation, and networking, not to mention a perfect excuse to trial that new linen suit.

So polish your votes, warm up your hashtags, and prepare for a festival of travel industry excellence — one vote at a time.