The Australian Federation of Travel Agents has extended its annual awards ceremony across the Tasman for the first time with the launch of the New Zealand National Travel Industry Awards 2013.
The inaugural event will be held at SkyCity in Auckland on July 3, with the finalists now revealed after a one month polling period during which the industry cast its votes.
AFTA chief executive Jayson Westbury thanked the Travel Agencts Association of New Zealand for getting behind the new awards.
"AFTA and TAANZ have enjoyed a long working relationship together and it was with their blessing that AFTA is proud to extend this award ceremony across the Tasman," he said.
"Extending these awards is another example of the two industry bodies working together, and cementing the strong bonds which we already proudly share."
The awards will help to recognise the "vital contributions" that the NZ travel industry makes to Australia, he added.
Meanwhile, TAANZ chief executive, Andrew Olsen, wished the finalists the best of luck.
"The judging process will allow New Zealand travel agency owners to gain awards via a proven industry model," he said.
The New Zealand NTIA finalists are:
Best Travel Agency Retail – Single Location: House of Travel Lakers, United Travel Manly, The Travel Brokers, Harvey World Travel Rotorua, Executive Travel.
Best Travel Agency Retail – Multi Location: House of Travel, Flight Centre, World Travellers, The Mount Group – United Travel, China Travel Service.
Best Travel Agency Corporate – Single Location: Executive Travel, BCD Travel, Corporate Travel Management NZ, Gilpin Travel, Orbit Wellington.
Best Travel Agency Corporate – Multi Location: Orbit Corporate Travel, Flight Centre Corporate – FCm and Corporate Traveller, HRG New Zealand, Business World Travel.
