TravelManagers will remain home-based agency leader: Barry Mayo

TravelManagers will remain home-based agency leader: Barry Mayo

The latest Flight Centre acquisition of Aussie home-based agency Travel Partners has caused quite a stir in the industry.

And now industry big cheese – not to mention Chairman of TravelManagers and Director of House of Travel – Barry Mayo, says FC’s latest move is a welcome bout of competition.

“The home-based model is a rapidly growing market segment and with Flight Centre’s recent acquisition of the Travel Managers Group in New Zealand (which is not associated in any way with Australia’s TravelManagers home-based personal travel manager network), it’s of little surprise that Flight Centre has now entered this arena in the Australian market with its purchase of Travel Partners.

“TravelManagers welcomes competition as it can assist with people understanding the value of our personal travel managers and it keeps us on our toes as a company.”

Earlier this week, Travel Counsellors’ Managing Director, Fred van Eijk, cautioned that the acquisition mightn’t work so well, and believes home-based agencies don’t belong in big corporate companies.

And Mayo’s comments are somewhat aligned with this view, insisting TravelManagers’ focus is wholly on supporting their agents.

“TravelManagers sole focus is on mobile consulting and with our personal travel managers having an average of 21 years’ industry experience, we will continue to do what we do best.

“Our personal travel managers will still receive the most complete and in-depth support, as our new recruits do from day one that is unrivalled in the industry.

“With our continued investment in technology and in our people, along with the knowledge and experience we have gained in this specialist segment over the past twelve years, we are completely confident TravelManagers will remain Australia’s market leader in home-based consulting.”

But Skroo Turner was none too worried, telling TW that he wants to grow Flight Centre “reasonably rapidly” whilst believing that they “haven’t grown dramatically”.

The comment is ironic given the company has made six major acquisitions in less than five weeks.

TravelManagers was founded by Jeff Hakim who since left and founded Flight Centre’s newest baby, Travel Partners, and remains there in a managing capacity following the buy-out.

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]