Travel Digest Industry Awards

PRESS RELEASE

6 December 2008

Travel Digest Industry Awards

Travel Digest has much pleasure in announcing the winners of the Travel Digest 2008 Industry Awards. Nominated by readers of New Zealand¹s leading monthly travel industry magazine Travel Digest , the publication had the foresight to pick up these awards at a time when no one else was offering the awards in New Zealand and also at a time when the next Tourism Industry Awards have been postponed.

Currently New Zealanders spend around $4.6 billion on overseas travel, according to Travel Agents Association chief executive Paul Yeo. A substantial contribution to the economy. Travel Digest publisher Lorraine Thomson said it was pleasing to see the travel industry was alive and well and not suffering too much from the economic recession, with outbound travel over the past year up two per cent from last year.

"Our travel industry readers are clearly prospering from the dedication and commitment shown by the companies and individuals who have won these awards," she said.

Now in its 28th year, Travel Digest is recognised by travel industry readers for the quality of its journalism and the passion to explore where no one else goes. These are the travel industry award winners, as chosen by readers, for 2008:

Supreme Industry Award [top company] World Aviation

General sales agent of the year World Aviation

World Aviation is a division of Stella Travel Services and has been in operation in New Zealand since 1988. The company represents 22 airlines in New Zealand, four of which are on line ­ Aircalin, Air Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui and LAN.

Travel Agent of the Year Helen Dobbs Senior leisure travel consultant Warwick Beatson Travel, Riccarton, Christchurch

Leading training provider International Travel College

Leading travel / recruitment company TMS Asia Pacific

Travel student of the year Pretoria Sturge Whangarei

Leading airline, domestic Air New Zealand

Leading airline, short haul Air Tahiti Nui

Leading airline, long haul Emirates

Leading airline, first class Singapore Airlines

Leading hotel, domestic The Westin Auckland Lighter Quay

Leading hotel / resort, international The Byron at Byron, NSW, Australia

Leading rental car / motor home company Kea Campers

Leading coach operator Newmans Coach Lines

Cruise line of the year P&O

National tourism office of the year Cook Islands Tourism

Travel wholesaler, short haul of the year Go Holidays

Travel wholesaler, long haul of the year Go Holidays

Customer service operator of the year Adventure World

Online travel company of the year HotelClub

ENDS

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