xtravel was named Division of the Year and received top seller awards for Air New Zealand, Emirates and Intrepid, co-owner Victoria Keating was named Tour Member of the Year and Intrepid Top Seller, and team member Billy Ballantine was named Globus Family of Brands’ Most Improved Individual.
"To be acknowledged among such an outstanding group of peers — and on home turf — was incredibly special," Keating says.
"These wins are a tribute to the dedication of our entire team, our amazing clients, and the relationships we’ve built with our suppliers and community."
The Narnia Winter Wonderland-themed gala awards night was the culmination of the annual conference, which brought together more than 200 independent travel professionals and suppliers from across New Zealand and Australia.
It included a day of ‘speed dating’, with 47 leading travel companies at the Queenstown Memorial Centre, and a walking bus, hosted by xtravel, guiding 75 suppliers on a pub crawl through CBD bars.
Keating also spoke on a panel, sharing insights into xtravel’s community-driven marketing success, and the role community engagement plays in their growth, including their ongoing support for local schools, theatres, youth trusts and inclusive travel initiatives: "At the heart of everything we do is people."
