The inaugural Women In Travel Awards were held last night at a gala ceremony at the Ovolo Woolloomooloo.
The significance of the first ever Women in Travel Awards was clear, with a sold-out attendance of over 300 of the Australia’s travel industry’s elite.
Setting the tone for the occasion was Former NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally who gave a rousing keynote about women in politics and the workforce, and how more needs to be done to empower females to rise to the top.
MC’d by Travel Weekly Editor, Tara Harrison, the ceremony continued with the hotly contested top 15 Powerlist – check who made the cut here.
Keen on seeing who attended, who wore what, or you’re just wanting a sticky beak? Check out the gallery of photo’s from the night here.
Champagne corks will be popping in the offices of these successful ladies today, and rightfully so for their hard work, dedication and contribution to the industry.
So, without further ado, here are the winners along with the finalists in each category.
Aviation
Finalists:
Anca Sbenghe – Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines
Felicity Brown – Chinta Air Tours
Nicole McMahon – Virgin Australia
Roheena Gidwani – Malindo Air
Winner: Gai Tyrell, Hawaiian Airlines
Corporate
Finalists:
Leanne Ralston – Spencer Travel
Melissa Gillman – Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Rebecca Crosbie – Global Travel Management
Winner: Cherie Drummond, Corporate Travel Management
Employer of the Year
Finalists:
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Excite Holidays
Flight Centre Travel Group
Globenet Travel
GTI Tourism
InterContinental Hotels Group
Klick Communications
The Travel Corporation
The Africa Safari Co.
Winner: American Express Global Business Travel
Entrepreneur of the Year
Finalists:
Bella Tipping – Kidzcationz
Emily Warbrick- Snowscene
Gayle Dawson – TravelManagers
Lisa Pagotto – Crooked Compass
Nadine Jones – Jones & Co Collection
Rachel James – Bestjet
Reena Tory – Mantra Wild Adventures
Sarah Anderson – GTI Tourism
Winner: Renee Welsh, Booking Boss
Hotel
Finalists:
Amelia Karcher – Ibis Adelaide
Amery Burleigh – Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach
Nicole Cheramie – InterContinental Hotels Group
Winner: Megan Pechey, Mantra Group
Male Champion of Change
Finalists:
Craig Owens – Cruise Office
Gaston Guernik – Excite Holidays
Warren Payne – Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Winner: John Veitch, The Travel Corporation
Drive & Rail
Winner: Ingrid Kocijen, Rail Plus
Marketer of the Year
Finalists:
Justine Lally – APT Travel Group
Lee Siefken – InterContinental Hotels Group
Lisa Ronson – Tourism Australia
Lucy Piper – Intrepid Group
Meagan Maynard – Excite Holidays
Winner: Karen Cooke, Flight Centre Travel Group
Mentor of the Year
Finalists:
Debra Fox – APT Travel Group
Dyan McKie – Intrepid Group
Jo Sully – American Express Global Business Travel
Joleen R Hurst – Accor Hotels
Kim McKay – Klick Communications
Meg Salter – Auridian Training & Consulting
Sue Badyari – World Expeditions
Tracey Bremner – Globenet Travel
Winner: Sarah Anderson, GTI Tourism
PR of the Year
Finalists
Karena Noble – Voyages
Lauren Coughlan – Tourism New Zealand
Nicole Crowley – InterContinental Hotels Group
Rae White – The Travel Corporation
Winner: Jen McDermott, WE Buchan
Retail
Finalists
Carly Hulls – Tour Radar
Chriss Perry – Travel Partners
Debbie Collins – Spencer Travel
Debra Carr – Helloworld Surrey Hills
Dr Rita Benckendorff-Malik – Tailor Made Travelling
Kim Mason – TravelManagers
Maria Pandalai – TravelManagers
Robyn Davies – WOW! Travel
Winner: Penny Spencer, Spencer Travel
Rising Star
Finalists
Gisela Bell – Excite Holidays
Kass Scarlett – Tui Marine
Kate Wickham – Contiki
Lauren Smith – Intrepid Group
Lucy Potter – TravelEdge
Madeline Georgiadis – Accor Hotels
Nidhi Menroy – CVFR Consolidation Services
Winner: Breeanna Perez, Globenet Travel
Salesperson of the Year
Finalists
Amanda Castle – Busabout, TTC
Deanna Varga -Australian National Maritime Museum
Felicity Allan – Malaysia Airlines
Mary-Jane Devine – Fusion Marketing
Melissa Elf – FCM Travel Solutions
Winner: Susan Haberle, APT Travel Group
Social Media
Finalists:
Caroline Brunel – GTI Tourism
Marie Sulda – Kaleidoscopic Travel
Melaine Banyard – Champagne Travel
Natalie Siagian – Contiki
Winner: Katherine Ong, Erdigroup Hotel Collection
Technology
Finalists:
Gemma Sherwood – Intrepid Group
Kaylene Shuttlewood – Travelport
Narelle Smythe – Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Rachel James – Bestjet
Renee Welsh – Booking Boss
Winner: Michelle Beveridge, Intrepid Group
Tourism Board
Finalists:
Anne Morris – GTI Tourism
Mona Tannous – Sultanate of Oman Tourism
Stephanie Sng – Japan National Tourism Organization
Winner: Sarah Seddon, Destination Melbourne
Wholesale
Finalists:
Alex O’Connor – Insight Vacations
Alison Mead – Collette
Fiona Dalton – Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Simla Sooboodoo – Hands On Journeys
Winner: Susie Potter, The Africa Safari Co
The Women in Travel Awards could not have been held without our sponsors, dedicated judges and you – the travel industry for entering! Thank you for your support and congratulations to all the finalists and winners. We’ll be back next year for another terrific celebration of female talent in the industry! Stay tuned.
