The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) delivered the biggest award celebration the industry has witnessed.

Celebrated Saturday 16 July, at The Pavilion Darling Harbour the Gala Dinner recognised 38 travel industry individual and businesses who have been awarded for their excellence and contribution to the travel industry.

Helloworld Limited was awarded Best Travel Agency Group and Best Non-Branded Travel Agency Group. Queanbeyan City Travel and Cruise was announced People's Choice: Retail Travel Agency of the Year, George Hedley was awarded with the 2016 Emirates Travel Consultant Scholarship and Allan Leibowitz was named 2016 Travel Writer of the Year.

The full list of 2016 winners is available on the AFTA website.

The attending airline sponsors amazed guests with a lavishing of ticket give-aways. Major sponsor Qantas, in partnership with American Airlines, gave two return business class flights. The Star Alliance network of 27 airlines delighted guests with more than 50 prizes in the napkin scratch & win promotion and Beverage Sponsor Air New Zealand wowed guests with an epic give-way; 27 Airlines tickets to celebrate their international flight routes.

Tourism Fiji gave guest a warm welcome on the chilly Saturday evening and thanks to EMCEE Sponsor Dubai Tourism, multi-awarding winning journalist and TV personality Anjali Rao steered the proceedings with elegance and grandeur. Acclaimed performer / actor Johnny Ruffo delivered a high energy performance thanks to Express Travel Group and guests celebrations continued into the early hours of the morning thanks to the Singapore Airlines After Party which was held at The Watershed, Darling Harbour.

Jayson Westbury, AFTA Chief Executive said: “AFTA, together with our valued and important Sponsors are very proud to have once again delivered such a spectacular event.”

For the full list of NTIA sponsors go to www.afta.com.au/events/ntia

AFTA, in partnership with Travel Daily will be publishing more photos from Gala Dinner on the AFTA website.

AFTA congratulates all winners and finalists.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Joanne Tralaggan, jo@afta.com.au, 0407 264 392

Notes to Editors:

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) is the peak body in Australia representing the retail travel industry.

Founded in 1957, AFTA represents the majority of travel agents in Australia and includes all of the major travel agency groups.

AFTA's role is to uphold the interests of members in matters relating to the operation of all travel agencies in Australia. In broad terms these issues are ones that are not addressed by agent chain or corporate entities on behalf of their members, and are ones that involve the industry as a whole.

ATAS -TRAVEL ACCREDITED: The AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS) is an industry accreditation scheme that sets the benchmark of quality for the travel industry.

AFTA is committed, through ATAS, to elevating travel industry standards in Australia by driving increased and continued participation by travel intermediaries in ATAS and raising consumer awareness of the benefits of booking travel through an ATAS accredited agent.

The accreditation scheme is open to all travel intermediaries (those that buy and sell travel).

The AFTA National Travel Industry Awards (AFTA NTIA) acknowledge the best of the best in the Australian travel industry – with categories covering travel agencies and individual consultants, as well as the various suppliers which support them and their businesses.

These awards are essential in providing encouragement and recognition to the businesses and personnel who demonstrate outstanding service, marketing excellence and business acumen to the travel industry.