Best of the 2018 Travvy Awards

TravAlliancemedia president and CEO Mark Murphy hosted the fourth annual Travvy Awards inside Gotham Hall in New York City on January 24. Here are some of our favorite moments from a night to remember:

Sky Bird Travel & Tours' Akshay Shah flaunts the gold Travvy for Best Airline Consolidator Overall.

TravelPulse Director of Digital Content Michael Schottey awards the gold Travvy for Best Chauffered Services Overall to Carey International, Inc's Matt McGrath.

The Royal Caribbean International team (presented by Theresa Norton, Editor-in-Chief Vacation Agent and Agent@Home Magazines at far left) secured a whopping 10 Travvys at the star-studded gala, including gold for Best Cruise Line Overall and Best Cruise Ship Overall.

Seabourn's Tanya Barnette (seen here with Jason Leppert, TravelPulse's Senior Writer, Cruises and Cruise Travel) accepted a pair of Travvys on behalf of the cruise line, which won gold for Best Expedition/Adventure Cruise Line and Best Luxury Cruise Ship.

American Queen Steamboat Company president and COO Ted Sykes shows off the gold Travvy for Best U.S. River Cruise Line.

Travel Impressions was honored with gold Travvy awards for Best Tour Reservation Team, Best Luxury Vacation Packager and Best Premium Vacation Packager, seen here with John Kirk, President, Editor in Chief
Travel Pulse Canada, Inc. at far left.

The Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Hotels team celebrated gold Travvy wins for Best Destination Wedding All-Inclusive Resort (Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall), Best Destination Wedding Hotel/Resort in Mexico (Hyatt Ziva Cancun) and Best Individual Resort Overall (Hyatt Ziva Cancun).

Vice President and General Manager Steve Lassman accepts the gold Travvy for Best Villa Rental Company Overall on behalf of Villas of Distinction.

The Funjet Vacations team had their hands full at the 2018 Travvys, securing gold trophies for Best Vacation Packager Overall, Best Caribbean Vacation Packager, Best Vacation Packager in Mexico and Best Vacation Packager for Families.

The Mark Travel Corporation was also awarded for Blue Sky Tours and Southwest Airlines Vacations, which won gold for Best Vacation Packager for Hawaii and Best Vacation Packager for U.S. and Canada, respectively.

The Goway Travel team of Renee Stanton (center) and Adam Hodge (right) winning the gold Travvy for Best Vacation Packager in Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific.

New York City-based pop group RANGE a cappella provided the intermission entertainment.

Mark Murphy celebrated with event sponsor Allianz Global Assistance after it won the gold Travvy for Best Travel Insurance Provider Overall.

The Avoya Travel team of Brad Anderson (left), Scott Koepf (third from the left) and Diane Bower (right) joined Claudette Covey, (Managing Editor, Vacation Agent and Agent@Home) on stage after winning gold for Best Host Agency and Best Host Agency Website.

The Jamaica Tourism team was all smiles after winning the gold Travvy for Best Tourism Board Overall.

The Cruise Planners team of Michelle Fee (center) and Vicky Garcia (right) was happy to accept the coveted gold Travvy for Best Travel Agency Consortium Cooperative or Franchise Group.

Elite Travel's Tammy Levent was recognized as the Travel Agent Innovator of the Year.

A jubilant Miki Taylor of Taylor & Co. Travel met Mark Murphy on stage to claim the Travvy for Agent Studio Marketer of the Year.

VIP Vacations Inc's Jennifer Doncsecz graciously accepts the Travvy for Niche Agency of the Year.

Riviera Maya Tourism's Dario de Jesus Flota Ocampo takes hold of the gold Travvy for Best Wedding Destination Overall.

The ShoreTrips team of Barry and Julie Karp wins the gold Travvy for Best Shore Excursions.

The G Adventures team poses after the company won gold for Best Escorted Adventure/Expedition Tour Operator.

Viking Cruises' Senior Manager, Trade Marketing, Araseli Simpson accepts the gold Travvy for Best Cruise Line in Europe.

Sandals Resorts, which won four gold Travvys for its exceptional properties in the Caribbean and Bahamas, was represented on stage by Unique Travel Corp. Senior Business Development Manager, Susan Granger.

Grand Velas Resorts Mexico's Rosalynn Castillo poses with the gold Travvy for Best Luxury Hotel/Resort in Mexico, which was awarded to Grand Velas Riviera Maya.

Trafalgar and Brendan Vacations vice president of sales, Whitney Ramirez represented both brands in accepting gold Travvy trophies on gala night. Trafalgar won for Best Escorted Tour Operator Overall while Brendan Vacations won for Best LGBTQ Tour Operator.

The Travel Corporation also picked up a gold Travvy for Best Vacation Packager for Africa (African Travel, Inc.), which was accepted by Vice President of Public Relations, Arnelle Kendall.

Abercrombie & Kent Sales Director Javier Echecopar receives the gold Travvy after the tour operator picked up wins for Best Escorted Tour Operator for Africa and Best Escorted Tour Operator for Luxury.

Auto Europe Vice President of Sales Robert Ardino collects the gold Travvy after his company wins the Best International Car Rentals category.

Enterprise's Tony Cosenza and Jay Pope take to the stage and accept a gold Travvy for Best Car Rentals Domestic and Best Car Rentals Overall.

Princess Cruises' Anthony Viciana is handed the gold Travvy for Best Cruise Line in Alaska.

The Carnival Cruise Line team lifts the gold Travvy for Best LGBTQ Cruise Line.

Representatives for Paul Gauguin Cruises accept the gold Travvy for Best Cruise Line in Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific.

Rudi Schreiner (right) and Kristin Karst (center) of AmaWaterways were big winners on Travvys night after the river cruise line won five gold awards, including Best River Cruise Line Overall and Best River Cruise Ship.

Tahiti Tourisme U.S. Manager Director Kristin Carlson Kemper represented the Islands of Tahiti, which won gold Travvys for Best Cruise Destination Overall, Best Cruise Destination in Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific, Best Honeymoon Destination in Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific and Best Luxury Destination in Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific.

The Palace Resorts team of Kathy Halpern (center) and Frank Corzo (right) hoist the gold Travvy for Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun, which won the title of Best All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico.

Europe Express' Vice President of Outside Sales takes possession of the gold Travvy for Best Vacation Packer for Europe.

The Mark Travel Corporation's Luke Gibson accepts the gold Travvy on behalf of VAX VacationAccess, which won for Best Travel Agent Reservations System and Best Travel Technology Provider.

The ladies representing Hard Rock Hotels couldn't help but grin after collecting a gold Travvy. The iconic chain won for Best All-Inclusive Family Resort in Mexico (Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya) and Best Premium Gaming Hotel/Resort in the Caribbean and Bahamas (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana).