A total of 75 finalists from Australia and New Zealand will vie for one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades at the 22nd Cruise Industry Awards for Australia, with CLIA revealing the list of those in the running.
The annual event, to take place in March 2025, recognises the achievements of CLIA’s growing travel advisor community.
“This year’s finalists reflect a thriving membership that is now bigger than ever before,” Managing Director of CLIA in Australasia Joel Katz said.
“We can see new faces and fresh perspectives among the finalists, alongside some of the established achievers of the Australasian cruise community.”
The awards have seen a record 800 nominations across 15 categories. Key categories include Agency of the Year, Cruise Consultant of the Year, Home-Based Cruise Agent/Broker of the Year, Rising Star, Cruise Champion, Promotion of the Year, and a Media Award.
“Cruising has become a clear priority among our region’s travel agents, and so this year’s awards will help celebrate that focus and support,” Katz continued. “The cruise industry is incredibly grateful for the passion and professionalism shown by our trade partners, and I congratulate all our award finalists for their success.”
The 22nd Cruise Industry Awards for Australasia will take place at The Star Event Centre in Pyrmont, Sydney, on Saturday 8 March 2025.
Here is a full list of the finalists:
Agency of the Year Categories
Cruise Agency of the Year Multi Location/Brand – Australasia
Phil Hoffmann Travel
Ignite Travel Group
Gallivanter Travel
Bicton Travel/Claremont Cruise & Travel Centre
Hunter Travel Group
Cruise Agency of the Year, Single Location – Australia
Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel
Destination HQ
Main Beach Travel
Jamison Travel
Chirn Park Travel
Cruise Agency of the Year, Single Location – New Zealand
Quay Travel
House of Travel Botany Junction
North Shore Business Travel
House of Travel Kapiti Coast
Pukekohe Travel
Online Cruise Agency of the Year
Cruise Guru
Our Vacation Centre
Clean Cruising
Ecruising
Trip-A-Deal
Individual Categories
Broker of the Year, New Zealand
Michelle Downey, Bucket List Travel
Robert Schroder, Mondo Travel
Jane Hanson, YOU Travel Bethlehem
Debbie Christian, Ocean Escapes
Denise Fowler, The Travel Brokers
Mobile/Home Based Agent of the Year, Australia
Karryn Bartlett, TravelManagers Australia
Sarah Webster, Wayfinder Travel
Tracy King, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
Jane Fowler, TravelManagers Australia
Lauren Jenkins, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
Cruise Consultant of the Year, New Zealand
Natasha Warfield, Toussaint & Turner Travel Associates
Lesley Johns, Helloworld Westgate
Donna Hill, Quay Travel
Lisa Wharfe, Pukekohe Travel
Lydia Haydon, YOU Travel Bethlehem
Kay Paulsen, Cruisedeals.co.nz
Cruise Consultant of the Year, Australia
Amanda Taylor, My Cruises
Michelle Yates, The Travel Studio
Kat Logan, Cruiseabout Brisbane
Malcolm Leyland, Cruise Express
Samantha Renvoye, Clean Cruising
Rising Star, New Zealand
Melissa Duder, House of Travel Taupo
Cody Fifield, YOU Travel Levin
Rachael Wood, House of Travel Hornby
Flynn Cox, Flight Centre Botany Town
Morgan Wright, Pukekohe Travel
Rising Star, Australia
Shane Black, SW Black Travel
Natasha Kozlowski, RAA Travel Colonnades
Rebecca Dunn, Flight Centre Griffith
Kyle Barney, Gallivanter Travel Townsville
Corey Martin, The Cruise & Travel Store
Cruise Champion, Australasia
Kylie Crouch, First Travel Group
Michael Middleton, Ignite Travel Group
Belle Goldie, The Cruise & Travel Store
Rose Febo, TravelManagers Australia
Cruise Month Promotion of the Year Australasia
Globe Trotters Cruise & Touring “Cruise Showcase – Waves of Discovery”
Cruise Express “CLIA Cruise Month Discover and Learn”
MTA – Mobile Travel Agents “Sustainable and Responsible Cruising”
First Travel Group “Sail in Style with Celebrity”
Gallivanter Travel “Cruise Month Campaign”
Network Cruise Promotion of the Year, Australasia
Travel Associates “Luxury Cruise Season”
First Travel Group “YOU Travel & Cruise: Your Cruise Experts”
World Travellers “Smooth Sailing”
Flight Centre “Cruise Wave”
House of Travel “Seas The May”
RAA Travel “It Pays to Cruise with RAA”
Agency / Agent Cruise Promotion of the Year, Australasia
Luxury Escapes “Sail Away Sale”
itravel Carlingford “Welcome to Sydney Scenic Eclipse II”
Imagine Holidays “Exclusive Event with John Cleese & Cunard”
Our Vacation Centre “Cruise Matchmaker”
My Cruises “Exclusive Northern Lights”
Media Award, Australasia
Louise Goldsbury, The Australian “I thought I’d done the Med.This trip made me think again”
Brian Johnston, The Australian Financial Review “Ship shape”
Susan Kurosawa, The Australian “Into the white unknown”
Jocelyn Pride, Signature Luxury Travel & Style “Into the wild”
