AFTA update
From AFTA’s chief executive, Jayson Westbury
FROM the verbal reports on the night, text messages and emails that have already been sent to AFTA, it is very clear that the NTIA 2017 has been our biggest and best event ever. Congratulations to all of the winners across the 38 categories and Travel Daily as the official media partner has already given readers a taste of the event in their coverage yesterday. The International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) definitely made the NTIAs the spectacular and sensational event that it was and the entire AFTA team (who are a little on the tired side) are so pleased with how everything went.
From the sponsors, including our major sponsor Qantas, to the finalists and of course the winners, a big night was had by all. We now can’t wait to start the planning process for 2018. And not to forget, the Singapore Airlines After Party appears to also have been a great big success once again this year, with a new Darling Harbour side venue, The Port.
NTIA also brought with it two other celebrations. The first was the recognition that AFTA turned 60 this year and it was fitting for this to be acknowledged at the event and continues to be for the balance of the year. Sixty years in business is a milestone for any company, but an enormous achievement for an industry association. Happy Birthday AFTA and may there be many more.
We also awarded a Life Membership of AFTA to Ian McMahon. Ian has been a travel journalist for more than 40 years. Of more recent years he is known as the publisher of travelBulletin until it changed hands to the Business Publishing Group a year or so ago. It was a delight to bestow the honour of Life Membership of AFTA upon Ian. There are not that many life members of AFTA, and in fact, this is only the second one that has been awarded in the past nine years. So as the industry got together to celebrate all things travel, recognise the achievements of all the winners across so many categories and call out a few special people, it is so very nice to be a part of the travel industry at this time of the year.
The NTIA is the “night of nights” for the entire travel industry in Australia and I hope that this will go on for many years to come.
For all of the winners details you can view them on the AFTA website at http://www.afta.com.au/events/ntia/ntia-winners.
I look forward with great anticipation to do it all again in 2018.