Learn about the Award Processes

This page explains the difference between the various judging and voting processes, as well as the categories entrant guidelines and key dates for each process.

Following peer nominations, you'll be contacted via email to accept or decline the peer nomination. Once the nomination has been accepted, you'll then under go one of the following processes.

Key dates to remember

20 June 2024 — Nomination acceptance emails issued and entrant guidelines published.
1 July 2024 — Awards portal opens for submissions and voting profiles.
12 July 2024 — Awards portal closes for voting profiles.
21 July 2024 — Awards portal closes for submissions.
22 July 2024 — Industry voting commences.
9 August 2024 — Industry voting concludes.
Late August 2024 — NTIA Finalists announced.
September 2024 — NTIA Virtual Judging Interviews.
25 October 2024 – Beyond Borders Travel Summit, and NTIA Finalist Celebration.
26 October 2024 — NTIA Gala Dinner & Awards Presentation.

Entrant Guidelines & Submission Questions

Please click on the category name to view the entrant guidelines and submission questions.

Note, NTIA 2024 has been scheduled for Saturday 26 October 2024 (not the 18 November date listed within the Entrant Guidelines).

Category 1 - Most Outstanding Mobile / Home Based Travel Advisor

Category 2 - Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager

Category 3 - Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Corporate

Category 4 - Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Leisure

Category 5 - Rookie of the Year

Category 6 - Most Outstanding Sales Executive - Air

Category 7 - Most Outstanding Sales Executive - Cruise

Category 8 - Most Outstanding Sales Executive - Land Supply

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Category 21 - Most Outstanding Tour Operator - Specialised

Category 22 - Most Outstanding Tour Operator - Global

Category 23 - Most Outstanding Wholesaler - Product / Service

Category 24- Most Outstanding Wholesaler - Destination / Experience

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Category 32 - Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Institution

Category 33 - Sustainability Award - Supplier

Category 34 - Innovation in Travel Support Services

Category 35 - Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign

1. Video Submission and Virtual, Judging Interview (Categories 1 - 8)

Following nominations, a two-step process will be used to determine the finalists and winner in the following categories:

Category 1 - Most Outstanding Mobile / Home Based Travel Advisor
Category 2 - Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager
Category 3 - Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Corporate
Category 4 - Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Leisure
Category 5 - Rookie of the Year
Category 6 - Most Outstanding Sales Executive - Air
Category 7 - Most Outstanding Sales Executive - Cruise
Category 8 - Most Outstanding Sales Executive - Land Supply

Step 1 - Entrants to submit a video submission

Entrants are required to submit a video submission addressing their category questions. These are listed within the Entrant Guidelines.
You can record your submission from your mobile phone or meeting platform e.g. Microsoft Teams, Zoom.
The video must have a maximum running time of 10mins. Any content after the 10min mark will not be assessed / scored.
If the video submission has been sped up to fit within the maximum time frame, it will be disqualified.
The video submission does not need to professionally produced, and scores will not be given for production value or special effects.
We encourage entrants to speak to camera, in a loud and clear voice, about their achievements. Remember to look neat and professional and ensure that your background is appropriate.
Please ensure your responses relate to achievements during the qualifying period; from 01 July 2023 – 30 June 2024.

Nominee and Finalist Determination

Entrants that submit their video by the deadline will be announced as Nominees. Nominees will be announced in late July.
All submissions will be scored by an Independent Assessor. The top 5 scoring nominees will be shortlisted as Finalists. Finalists will be asked to provide evidence of their eligibility (with regards to the minimum TTV for mobile, leisure, and corporate consultants), prior to Finalists being publicly announced.

Step 2 - Finalists to attend a Virtual Judging Interview

Finalists are required to attend a virtual judging interview with 2 judges from the Industry Judging Panel. Finalists will be asked to address another series of questions, also outlined within the Entrant Guidelines.
Virtual judging interviews will be scheduled between 03 September and 19 September, with morning and afternoon time blocks. The morning block will be from 9:00am - 12:00pm AEST; and afternoon block from 2:00pm - 5:00pm AEST.
We will email you the judging schedule, as well as the date, time slot, allocated judges and meeting link for your interview. Each finalist will be pre-assigned a 30min slot.
Failure to attend your scheduled interview without prior notice may result in disqualification and the next ranking nominee promoted to Finalist.
Prior to the finalist interview, the category's judges would have watched your submission.
During the interview, the judges will ask the interview questions outlined within the Entrant Guidelines as well as their judges' choice questions.
Please check your computer and firewall settings to ensure that you can access the link provided; that you have access to reliable internet; and that you are in a quiet, private and well-lit location.

Winner Determination

The finalist with the highest combined score will be confirmed as the winner, and announced at the NTIA Gala Dinner and Awards presentation.

2. Written Submission and Virtual, Judging Interview (Categories 11 - 16, 18 - 20)

The categories subject to Written Submission and Virtual Interview are:

Category 11 - Most Outstanding Online Travel Agency
Category 12 - Most Outstanding Business Events Travel Agency
Category 13 - Most Outstanding Australian-Owned Travel Management Company
Category 14 - Most Outstanding Global Travel Management Company
Category 15 - Most Outstanding Leisure Travel Agency - Single Location
Category 16 - Most Outstanding Leisure Travel Agency - Multi Location
Category 18 - Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network
Category 19 - Most Outstanding Travel Agency Group
Category 20 - Most Outstanding Travel Agency Network

Step 1 - Entrants to submit a Written Submission

Entrants are required to submit a written response addressing the submission questions.
Each question will have a word limit which will be enforced via the awards submission portal.
Within the submission portal, there will be text fields for you to enter your responses into. You will not be required to upload a document.
Please ensure your responses relate to achievements during the qualifying period, from 01 July 2023 – 30 June 2024.

Nominee and Finalist Determination

Entrants that provide a written submission by the deadline will be announced as Nominees. Nominees will be announced in late July.
All submissions will be scored by an Independent Assessor. The top 5 scoring nominees will be announced as Finalists.

Step 2 - Finalists to attend a Virtual Judging Interview

Finalists are required to attend a virtual judging interview with 2-3 judges from the Industry Judging Panel. Finalists will be asked to address another series of questions, also outlined within the Entrant Guidelines.
Virtual judging interviews will be scheduled between 03 September and 19 September, with morning and afternoon time blocks. The morning block will be from 9:00am - 12:00pm AEST; and afternoon block from 2:00pm - 5:00pm AEST.
We will email you the judging schedule, as well as the date, time slot, allocated judges and meeting link for your interview.
Failure to attend your scheduled interview without prior notice will result in disqualification and the next ranking nominee promoted to Finalist.
Prior to the finalist interview, the category's judges would have read through your submission.
During the interview, judges will ask the interview questions outlined within the Entrant Guidelines.
Please check your computer and firewall settings to ensure that you can access the link provided; that you have access to reliable internet; and that you are in a quiet, private and well-lit location.

Winner Determination

The finalist with the highest combined score will be confirmed as the winner, and announced at the NTIA Gala Dinner and Awards presentation.

3. Industry Voting and Virtual, Judging Interview (Categories 21 - 24)

Categories subject to Industry Voting and Virtual Interviews are:

Category 21 - Most Outstanding Tour Operator - Specialised
Category 22 - Most Outstanding Tour Operator - Global
Category 23 - Most Outstanding Wholesaler - Product / Service
Category 24 - Most Outstanding Wholesaler - Destination / Experience

Step 1 - Submit a profile for Industry Voting

Industry voting will be faciliated within the NTIA Awards Portal. You will be asked to submit a profile within the Awards Portal.
Businesses will have the opportunity to provide a 50 word call-to-action as to why we should vote for you, your company logo as well as 4 accompanying images of your product / service.
Businesses will have access to the awards portal in July.

Nominee and Finalist Determination

Those businesses that submit a voting profile will be announced as Nominees. Nominees will be put forward for industry voting.
The 5 nominees with the highest number of votes in their respective category will proceed as Finalists.

Step 2 - Finalists to attend a Virtual Judging Interview

Finalists are required to attend a virtual judging interview with 2-3 judges from the Industry Judging Panel. Finalists will be asked to address a series of questions that are outlined within the Entrant Guidelines.
Virtual judging interviews will be scheduled between 03 September and 19 September, with morning and afternoon time blocks. The morning block will be from 9:00am - 12:00pm AEST; and afternoon block from 2:00pm - 5:00pm AEST.
We will send you an email detailing the date, time block, and judges for your interview.
Failure to attend your scheduled interview without prior notice will result in disqualification, and the next ranking nominee promoted to Finalist.
During the interview, judges will ask the interview questions outlined within the Entrant Guidelines, and additional 2 judges' choice questions.
Please check your computer and firewall settings to ensure that you can access the link provided; that you have access to reliable internet; and that you are in a quiet, private and well-lit location.

Winner Determination

The finalist with the highest combined score will be confirmed as the winner, and announced at the NTIA Gala Dinner and Awards presentation.

4. Industry Voting Only (Categories 25 - 31)

The categories subject to industry voting only are:

Category 25 - Most Popular Tourism Office
Category 26 - Most Popular Accommodation Group / Chain
Category 27 - Most Popular Airline - Online
Category 28 - Most Popular Airline - Offline
Category 29 - Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator
Category 30 - Most Popular River Cruise Operator
Category 31 - Most Popular Car Rental Operator

Step 1 - Submit a voting profile for Industry Voting

Industry voting will be faciliated within the NTIA Awards Portal. You will be asked to submit a profile within the Awards Portal.
Businesses will have the opportunity to provide a 50 word call-to-action as to why we should vote for you, your company logo as well as 4 accompanying images of your product / service.
Businesses will access to the awards portal in July.
Those businesses that submit a voting profile will be announced as Nominees.

Step 2 - Industry Voting, Finalist and Winner Determination

This category is a popularity contest. The list of nominees will be put forward for industry voting.
The 5 nominees with the highest number of votes in their respective category will proceed as Finalists.
The nominee with the highest number of votes will be announced as the winner.

5. Written Submission Only (Categories 10, 17, 32 - 35)

The categories subject to Written Submission Only are:

Category 10 - Most Outstanding Employee Engagement and Recruitment Program
Category 17 - Sustainability Award - ATAS Accredited Agency
Category 32 - Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Institution
Category 33 - Sustainability Award - Supplier
Category 34 - Innovation in Travel Support Services
Category 35 - Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign

Step 1 - Entrants to submit a Written Submission

Entrants are required to submit a written submission addressing their category questions.
Each question will have a word limit which will be enforced via the awards submission portal.
Within the submission portal, there will be text fields for you to enter your responses into. You will not be required to upload a document.
Please ensure your responses relate to achievements during the qualifying period, from 01 July 2023 – 30 June 2024.

Nominee and Finalist Determination

Entrants that provide a written submission by the deadline will be announced as Nominees. Nominees will be announced in late July.
All submissions will be scored by an Independent Assessor. The top 5 scoring nominees will be announced as Finalists.

Step 2 - Industry Judging

Should your business be confirmed as a finalist, your original submission will be re-assessed by a panel of judges. No further action is required.

Winner Determination

The finalist with the highest combined score will be confirmed as the winner, and announced at the NTIA Gala Dinner and Awards presentation.