RCI & APT double headers at NTIA

ROYAL Caribbean International continued its winning streak at the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) on Sat, taking out both the Best Cruise Operator – International Deployment and Best Cruise Operator – Domestic Deployment categories, while another major winner was APT.

The win marked the third year running RCI has claimed both categories and the ninth time the company had been named Best Cruise Operator since 2005.

Attending her first NTIA, the cruise line’s new Australian and New Zealand vice president and managing director Susan Bonner was on hand to accept the awards, emphasising the win was a “tremendous validation”.

“We’re in this for the long term... We appreciate our networks and we treat the groups of people we work with with respect,” Bonner said.

MEANWHILE, APT continued to dominate the Best River Cruise Operator category, claiming the award for the fourth consecutive year since the category’s inception in 2014.

“The whole team is ecstatic,” said APT ceo Chris Hall.

“We’ve managed to maintain our dominance in this award, and it’s so important because it’s not many awards that are voted by agents and this one is.”

The company also pocketed Best Tour Operator – Domestic for the sixth time since 2012.

The Royal Caribbean team is pictured, with Bonner centre.

For more on the NTIA winners, see page four.