We're genuinely proud to share this: Aussie Grand Tours has been named Best DMC - Australia & New Zealand at the Global Excellence Tourism Awards 2026 - our second consecutive year winning this recognition, judged by an independent jury of some of the most respected names in global tourism policy and hospitality.
The Ceremony
The award was presented at a ceremony hosted by ExpoInn Suites & Convention in Greater Noida, India, bringing together tourism operators, trade leaders, and policymakers from across the industry for an evening celebrating genuine excellence in global tourism.
Why This One Matters
Plenty of industry "awards" are pay-to-play - a sponsorship fee dressed up as a trophy. This isn't one of them. The Global Excellence Tourism Awards is a jury-credited recognition, meaning an independent panel assesses and selects winners on merit, with no purchase or sponsorship involved. For an operator, that distinction matters enormously - it's the difference between a certificate you bought and a standard you were actually held to.
Winning once can be a strong year. Winning twice, judged by the same rigorous panel, says something different: that the systems, the people, and the standards behind every booking are consistent - not a one-off high point.
An Expanding Footprint, Recognised
This year's category specifically named Australia & New Zealand - a reflection of our growing footprint since the launch of our sister brand, Kiwi Grand Tours, bringing the same standards that earned this award to the New Zealand market. For trade partners building combined Australia and New Zealand itineraries, this recognition now covers the full journey.
The Jury
The panel behind this year's awards includes:
- Mr. M.P. Bezbaruah - Former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Member, Governing Council, UNWTO; distinguished policy strategist in Indian tourism
- Mr. Vinod Zutshi - Former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; senior bureaucrat and strategic advisor in tourism and governance
- Mr. Nakul Anand - Former Executive Director, ITC Ltd.; senior leadership role with FAITH (Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality); visionary leader in Indian hospitality and tourism
- Mr. Sandeep Marwah - Founder, Noida Film City; Chancellor, AAFT University
- Mr. Aashish Gupta - Consulting CEO, FAITH (Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality)
- Dr. Subhash Goyal - Chairman, STIC Travel Group; Chairman, ICC Aviation, Travel & Tourism Committee; Founding Chairman, FAITH
- Mr. Sanjay Bhatia - Former Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust; IAS (Retd.), Maharashtra Cadre; maritime and cruise tourism visionary
- Dr. Abhay Sinha - Director General, Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India; strategic advocate for India's services export and global trade
- Dr. Suborno Bose - Founder & Chairman, IIHM; CEO, International Hospitality Council; visionary in global hospitality education
- Mr. Upaul Majumdar - Head of Practice, Tourism, South Asia, Dolma Consulting UK
- Mr. Karim elMinabawy - Immediate Past President, SITE Global; President, Edge Destinations Management
This is a genuinely formidable panel - a former UNWTO Governing Council member, two former Secretaries of India's Ministry of Tourism, FAITH's founding and consulting leadership, and international hospitality and tourism figures spanning India, the UK, and Egypt. Being assessed and selected by this group, twice, is not a small thing.
What This Means for Our Trade Partners
For the agents and tour operators who work with us, this is external, independently verified confirmation of what we aim to deliver on every single booking -- transparent net rates, white-label operations, and genuine on-ground standards across Australia and New Zealand. It's exactly the kind of credential worth mentioning to your own clients when positioning an Australia or New Zealand itinerary.
Thank You
This recognition belongs to the whole AGT team - everyone on the ground across Australia and New Zealand, every guide, every driver, every person who picks up the phone when a client needs something sorted. And it belongs just as much to every trade partner who trusted us with their clients this year. That trust is the only reason a jury had anything to judge in the first place.
Want to know more about working with an award-winning DMC across Australia and New Zealand? Learn more about our trade partnerships, or get in touch with our team.