A Night For Stars, Bubbles And Crystal Balls

All across the country, suits are being pressed, dresses are being chosen and various body parts are being waxed and shaved.

The reason? The forthcoming National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA).

The travel industry’s own version of the Oscars, the event at the ICC Sydney on October 26 promises to be a glittering affair.

“A hearty congratulations to all our finalists who have been selected as the best in the business,” said Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association, who organise and host the awards.

“The countdown to NTIA is now well and truly on and we look forward to celebrating the travel industry’s night of nights as we celebrate this exceptional industry.”

As travel continues its remarkable renaissance post pandemic, the awards have become an even more important date on the industry calendar. It’s a time to celebrate winners – but also the survivors who have come through one of the worst periods in the industry’s history.

Traveltalk will, of course, be at the event to bring you all the cheers and tears as the winners are announced. It should be one of the greatest NTIA’s ever, preceded by the Beyond Borders Travel Summit.

Among all the speeches and the sequins, the awards and summit will give the industry a chance to focus on the future. Staff shortages, the advancement of AI and the cost of living crisis are all front and centre topics and will need to be discussed.

Yet the industry can come together confident in the knowledge that most experts predict a bright and profitable future.

In their 2024 travel industry outlook, Deloitte concluded: “Enthusiasm for in-destination activities, growing interest in more diverse destinations and the return of baby boomers in greater numbers add to the positive indicators for travel. And workplace flexibility appears poised to further buoy demand.”

And in this issue, Michael Gazal, TravelManagers Australia’s Executive General Manager, echoes those sentiments.

“I’d say particularly in the GenX and Baby Boomer age groups, the spend of money on travel has been unprecedented.

“The demand for travel continues to break sales records and no sign of that changing anytime soon.”

Gazal adds that to be successful in the future, advisors will need to help the consumer by distilling down the seemingly endless choices presented to them.

“Going forwards I think it’s incredibly important for travel advisors to add value. This has to start from the beginning and qualifying a client is so important.

“Being able to quickly and succinctly understand what the client is looking for on their next adventure and active listening can really mean the difference between converting business and not.”

So, as 2024 prepares to enter it’s twilight years, it seems travel agents can look forward to the future with gusto and enjoy a glass or two at their night of nights.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get my knees waxed, my ears tinted and my eyebrows laminated…