‘Getaway’ host Catriona Rowntree named best ambassador for Aussie travel brands in 2025

Catriona Rowntree, the long-time host of Nine Network travel show Getaway, has been named as the best suited talent for endorsing Australian travel brands, while Smooth FM breakfast host Bogart Torelli is the top talent for airline brands, Talent Corp’s 2025 Australian Talent Index’s Top Talent Report has revealed.

The report, released today, lists Rowntree – the self-confessed “queen of travel” – as the most aligned with destination marketing brands, and long-time radio host Torelli as the best industry fit for promoting airlines.

Rowntree has become synonymous with domestic and international travel, having featured on Nine’s Getaway since 1996. In 2006, she released a travel book, Catriona’s Australia: My Favourite Aussie Locations, and has since worked with a range of travel companies and brands, including Scenic Luxury Cruise Tours, Geelong Travel, Hamilton Island and fashion label Blue Illusion.

Torelli is one of Sydney’s most enduring female radio announcers, having been part of the Smooth breakfast team, alongside respected newsreader Ron Wilson, since 2012.

ABC News breakfast presenter, James Glenday, was ranked second on the list of talent best placed for travel brand endorsement, while original Grand Designs Australia host, Peter Maddison, came in third. 

For airlines, sports commentator, Grace Gill, and broadcaster, Lucy Zelic, were ranked second and third respectively on the top talent list.

TOP TALENT – INDUSTRY SECTOR FIT

The Top Talent Report showcases the latest findings of the Australian Talent Index – a first-of-its-kind comprehensive talent measurement system that gauges consumers’ awareness, attitudes, and sentiments towards a range of Australian talent, including celebrities, broadcasters, comedians, sports stars, and chefs. This year, a nationally representative sample of more than 4,000 Australians were surveyed by Lewers Research, rating more than 500 personalities, and providing comments on how they felt about each one across several measures*.

The Australian Talent Index is calculated by subtracting the proportion of people who disliked a personality from those who liked or loved them, giving each a score ranging from -100 (universally disliked) through to +100 (universally liked).

Talent Corp Managing Director, Mark Noakes, said: “The Talent Index was created to meet the industry’s need for robust, data-driven metrics that measure a personality’s appeal, that goes far beyond social media likes and engagement.

“Our 2025 Talent Index confirms that audiences respond strongly to personalities who combine authenticity with reach. We also looked at a range of industry categories, including airline and travel destination brands, to delve more deeply into those TV and radio personalities that resonate positively with consumers and were the best fit for brands in these categories.

“For marketers, the Index is more than a popularity ranking, it’s a data-driven tool that highlights which personalities can deliver tangible engagement and with the broadest possible audience in a demographic that you won’t be able to find in Chat GPT or Google’s Gemini.”

Lewers founder and Managing Partner, Lisa Lewers, said: “The Talent Index continues to provide an unparalleled view of how talent resonates with Australians, and we are excited to be involved again in 2025.

“For marketers, understanding these insights is critical. It’s not just about awareness or visibility; it’s about knowing which personalities drive brand perception, engagement, and ultimately, ROI.”

Celebrity endorsements are a central part of today’s marketing landscape, with brands investing millions to collaborate with personalities who can authentically influence audiences. The Australian Talent Index provides marketers with a data-driven lens to identify which celebrities deliver both reach and resonance, helping campaigns maximise engagement, strengthen brand perception, and achieve measurable results.

The report can be accessed here.

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