The Jet2.com and Jet2holidays team were also big winners on the evening, taking home three awards with Jet2.com picking up the award for Best Airline to Europe 2025 and Jet2holidays collecting the awards for Best Travel Internet Booking System 2025 and Best Tour Operator to Europe 2025.
Local travel operator Travel Solutions also celebrated a successful night, winning Best Ski Operator 2025, Best Escorted Tours Operator 2025 and Best Sales Support Team to NI Travel Trade 2025. Robert Wilson also picked up the award for NI Travel Trade Manager/ Representative of the Year 2025 – the third year in a row he has claimed the title.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, Selective Travel Management was awarded the NI Tourism Industry Award.
With a workforce of over 180 employees across its offices in Belfast and Dublin, it now ranks among the top 20 Travel Management Companies in the UK. It is a leading industry supplier to the public sector travel framework, including the British Government Travel Framework, as one of only three suppliers estimated at maximum 3 billion pounds; Selective Travel Management is also a key partner to the Irish Government framework with 15 new clients.
This year welcomed the inclusion of two new awards; The Best Sustainability Award and the Best NI Accommodation Provider Award 2025.
The new Sustainability Award aimed to identify the travel companies that are developing more sustainable models of service provision that lead to better use of resources, nurture healthy ecosystems, advance environmental wellbeing and/or tackle climate change.Sponsored by The Spanish Tourist Board, the variety of companies which entered this award highlighted the importance of the work completed, and the dedication by so many for the planet, ensuring the future for many generations to come. Sani Resorts picked up the Best Sustainability Award 2025.
The new award for the Best NI Accommodation Provider 2025 was open to all Tourism NI Certified accommodations offering a plethora of services, with the public vote focusing on features such as quality and standards, service and hospitality, and overall experience. This year’s Best NI Accommodation Provider 2025 was presented to The Europa Hotel.
This year’s Travel Consultant of the Year was Olivia Martin from Terra Travel, while this year’s Travel Student of the Year was Tyler Murray from the Belfast Metropolitan College.
An incredibly high level of talent shone through during this year’s Travel Consultant of the Year voting, while all student nominees showcased an eagerness for the industry, with promising futures in the sector to follow.
Marking an incredible 25 years, Northern Ireland’s very own Belfast Giants were presented with the NI Special Achievement Award 2025. Since its formation back in 2000, the ice hockey team has played a pivotal role in, not only the development of the Titanic Quarter as a whole, but boosting tourism for Belfast and the greater Province. It has brought millions of fans and sport lovers from across the globe to this part of the world. With 16 championships won over 25 seasons and a club first treble win during its 2022/23 season, the Belfast Giants has, and will, continue to grow in strength as its marks this momentous milestone.
This year the prestigious Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Industry Roll of Honour went to Delia Aston. Delia worked in the travel industry for 15 years before finally opening her own travel agency, Clubworld Travel in Lurgan back in 1991. Since then, it has grown with its seven branches across the country and is now considered one of the premier travel agencies in the province.
This year’s Awards ceremony was hosted by Northern Irish comedian Shane Todd. Shane hails from Holywood and has just completed his third world tour with show, ‘Full House’, – Shane’s eleventh hour. The last few years has seen Shane sell out venues in the UK, Ireland, Australia, USA, Canada, and the Middle East. Shane holds the record for a solo performer in Belfast’s legendary Grand Opera House with a twenty-six-night run.
The Awards are only made possible with the continued support of the generous sponsors.
This year’s celebrations kicked off with a Champagne drinks reception, hosted by Norwegian Cruise Line where guests were welcomed by a ceremonial piper, courtesy of Loganair.
Hospitality was sponsored by Tourism Ireland with a fantastic ‘A Taste of Ireland’ menu while the wine was sponsored by Salou Tourism.
Sponsored by Visit Detroit, Peter Corry production returned for this year’s entertainment, highlighting all things Motown!
Stena Line once again presented every guest with a fantastic gift – every attendee on the evening received a voucher for a car and two passengers on any of Stena Line’s Irish Sea crossings.
Later in the evening, Anna’s Number took to the main stage, while DJ Nathan entertained guests into the wee hours in the bar. The evening’s entertainment (and the late night pizzas) were provided by Jet2holidays.
This year’s charity was Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation. This is a charity providing necessary care and support to women all across the province. As a company with a predominately female workforce, we find it imperative to help support women as much as possible as any one of us could be in need and require these services at any point in our lives. This is why, as a company, we chose to support this charity for the entire year. All monies raised on the evening of the NI Travel & Tourism Awards will go directly to the charity to support the work they do.
Stena Line, Travel Solutions, Spanish Tourist Board, Silversea Cruises, British Airways and Visit Dubai all returned as category sponsors for this year with the new addition of Sani and Ikos Group as our brand new category sponsor.
The Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards are organised by Northern Ireland Travel News who also sponsored the highly coveted Travel Agent of the Year Award.
This year the Travel Student of the Year award was sponsored by Bookit by NI Travel News.
The Winners in Full:
Best NI Visitor Attraction 2025 – Titanic Belfast
Best Tourist Information Centre 2025 -Visit Belfast
NI Special Achievement Award 2025 – Belfast Giants 25th Anniversary
Best NI Accommodation Provider 2025 – Europa Hotel
NI Travel Student of the Year 2025 – Tyler Murray
Best Sustainability Award 2025 – Sani Resort
Best Luxury Cruise Company 2025 – Oceania Cruises
Best River Cruise Company 2025 – Riveria Travel
Best Premium Cruise Company 2025 – Celebrity Cruises
Best Mainstream Cruise Company 2025 – NCL
Best Tourist Board Award 2025- Spain
Best Holiday Add-Ons or Car Hire Provider 2025- Flexible Autos
Best UK Airline 2025 – Aer Lingus
Best Airline to Europe 2025 – Jet2.com
Best Airline Worldwide 2025 – Emirates
Best Escorted Tours Operator 2025 -Travel Solutions
NI Travel Trade Manager/ Representative of the Year 2025 – Robert Wilson
Best Accommodation Only Specialist 2025 – Bedsonline
Best Ferry Company 2025 – Stena Line
Best Ski Operator 2025 – Travel Solutions
Best Travel Internet Booking System 2025 – Jet2holidays
Best Worldwide Tour Operator 2025 – If Only…
Best Specialist Tour Operator 2025 – Beachcomber Tours
Best Luxury Operator 2025 – If Only…
Best Hotel Group 2025 -Sani / Ikos Group
Best Tour Operator to Europe 2025 – Jet2holidays
NI Travel Industry Award 2025 – Selective Travel Management
Best Sales Support Team to NI Travel Trade 2025 – Travel Solutions
NI Travel Consultant of the Year 2025 – Olivia Martin
NI Travel & Tourism Industry’s Roll of Honour – Delia Aston
Northern Ireland Travel Agent of the Year 2025 – Holiday Hotspot
