The best of the best: AFTA’s 2013 awards

Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast has been named the best hotel or resort in Australia in this year’s national travel industry awards.

Qantas was named best domestic airline in the 2013 AFTA National Travel Industry Awards, voted by travel agents, while Emirates was named best international airline flying to Australia.

Royal Caribbean was voted the top Australian-based cruise operator while APT was best international cruise operator.

Trafalgar picked up the gong for best tour operator and Flight Centre was named best travel agency group.

The full list of winners:

Rookie of the Year Agent – Nicholas Lowes, Jetset Norwood

Best Travel Consultant Retail – Jenny Cooper, Queanbeyan City Travel & Cruise

Best Travel Agency Manager Retail – Michelle Nievaart, Flight Centre Garden City

Best Travel Agency Retail Single Location – Harvey World Travel Lane Cove

Best Travel Agency Retail Multi Location – Phil Hoffmann Travel

Best Travel Consultant Corporate – Fiona Hyde, Voyager Travel

Best Travel Agency Manager Corporate – Shelley Leven, Corporate Travel Management

Best Travel Agency Corporate Single Location – Spencer Travel

Best Travel Agency Corporate Multi Location – Corporate Traveller

Best Business Events Travel Agency – Event Travel Management

Best National Travel Management Company – Corporate Travel Management

Best Travel Agent Technology Innovation – Smart Tickets online revalidation and reissue

Best Travel Writer – Louise Goldsbury

Best Registered Travel Industry Training Institution – William Angliss Institute of TAFE

Best Hotel/Resort Australian Property – Palazzo Versace

Best Hotel/Resort Group – Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Rookie of the Year Supplier – Stephen Galloni, Contiki

Best Sales Executive Industry Supplier – Suzy McPhail, Trafalgar

Best Agency Support Service – Air Tickets

Best Tourist Office National – Tourism and Events Queensland

Best Tourist Office International – Dubai Tourism

Best International Airline Off-Line – Finnair

Best International Airline On-Line – Emirates

Best Domestic Airline – Qantas Airways

Best Car/Campervan Rental Operator – Hertz

Best Niche Wholesaler – The Africa Safari Co

Best Tour Operator Domestic – APT

Best Tour Operator International – Trafalgar

Best Wholesaler Australian Product – Qantas Holidays and Viva! Holidays

Best Wholesaler International Product – Infinity

Best Cruise Operator Australian Based Operation – Royal Caribbean International

Best Cruise Operator International Based Operation – APT

Best Travel Agency Group (100 outlets or more) – Flight Centre