Andrew Gay from STA Travel accepting the Best Travel Agency Group winners awards from awards Platinum Sponsor Stuart Udy from Expedia.
	Kevin Weston from Executive Travel accepting the awards for Best Travel Agency Corporate from Chris Jones from Expedia
	Grant Avis from Gilpin Travel, Best Travel Consultant Corporate with one of the MC’s for the night, Sabre Pacific’s James Tobin.
	Wendy Darcy from The Travel Brokers making her acceptance speech after winning Best Travel Broker Group

Just on 400 people gathered on Saturday night 8 September in The Great Room at the Langham Auckland at the inaugural New Zealand Travel Industry Awards to celebrate New Zealand travel top performers and leaders in the industry. The winners and runner up in 30 categories were announced with the top award for Best Travel Agency Group of the Year going to STA Travel with Runner Up, United Travel. The other prized award for Best Travel Broker Group of the Year was won by The Travel Brokers with Travel Managers as runner up.

Event organizer Adrian Caruso during his opening address said “My vision of the over the last 12 months to hold an event to find out who is the best in in the New Zealand travel industry and to honor them as one industry has become a reality tonight.”

Mr. Caruso went on to say that the support shown by the number of people attending the Gala Awards Dinner tonight and excitement surrounding the entire awards demonstrates the need for such an event each year. “The Awards will become an annual event as they serve to raise the spirit and passion of the industry to become better every year and learn from the people who are the best,” said Mr. Caruso.

The who’s who of the New Zealand travel industry attended the Gala Awards Dinner with representation from nearly all of the major travel chains, airlines, hotels, wholesalers and tourism bodies attending, with many bringing their staff to help them celebrate their win and what has been achieved by the New Zealand travel industry.

Winners List
Category 1: Best Travel Agency Group, sponsored by Expedia TAAP
STA Travel

Category 2: Best Travel Broker Group, sponsored by Expedia TAAP
The Travel Brokers

Category 3: Best Travel Agency Retail - Single Location
United Travel Manly

Category 4: Best Travel Agency Retail - Multi Location, sponsored by DriveAway Holidays
United Travel Mt Group

Category 5: Best Travel Agency Corporate, sponsored by Expedia TAAP
Executive Travel

Category 7: Best Travel Broker, sponsored by Amadeus IT Pacific
Steve Lawson - Travel Managers Group

Category 8: Best Travel Agent Technology Innovation
Sabre Pacific

Category 9: Best Travel Consultant Retail, sponsored by Travelport
Deanna Tolj - United Travel Newmarket

Category 10: Best Travel Consultant Corporate
Grant Avis - Gilpin Travel

Category 11: Rookie of the Year - Agent, sponsored by Virgin Australia
Kerrie MacDonald - Harvey World Travel Warkworth

Category 12: Best Domestic Airline, sponsored by Sabre Pacific
Air New Zealand

Category 13: Best International Airline - On-Line, sponsored by Peugeot EuroLease
Air New Zealand

Category 14: Best International Airline - Off-Line
Etihad Airways

Category 15: Best Cruise Operator - New Zealand Based
P&O Cruises

Category 16: Best Cruise Operator - International Based, sponsored by The Langham, Auckland
APT Group

Category 17: Best Tour Operator - Domestic
Guided Walks New Zealand Ltd

Category 18: Best Tour Operator - International
World Journeys

Category 19: Best Car/Campervan Rental Operator
HERTZ

Category 20: Best Tourist Office - National
Destination Queenstown

Category 21: Best Tourist Office - International
South Australian Tourism Commission

Category 22: Best Wholesaler - New Zealand Product
GO Holidays

Category 23: Best Wholesaler - International Product, sponsored by Virgin Australia
GO Holidays

Category 24: Best Agency Support Service
Air New Zealand Stella Support Team

Category 25: Best Sales Executive - Industry Supplier
Michelle Weir - Qantas Airways

Category 26: Rookie of The Year
Tony Carr - Blue Adventures Ltd

Category 27: Best Hotel/Resort - New Zealand
Quickenberry Lodge

Category 28: Best Hotel/Resort - International
Intercontinental Hotel & Resort - Fiji

Category 29: Best Hotel/Resort Group, sponsored by Sabre Pacific
Starwood Hotels

Category 30: Best Registered Travel Industry Training Institution
ATTTO