TravelManagers take home Avis Travel Agent Scholarship for third year running

TravelManagers take home Avis Travel Agent Scholarship for third year running

TravelManager’s Melanie Whyte has taken home the coveted Avis Travel Agent Scholarship for 2019.

Whyte is the third TravelManagers agent to take home the top gong and was presented with prizes valued at $35,000 at the Sydney’s Park Hyatt last night.

Hailing from Devonport, Tasmania, Whyte has been named the winner out of five finalists selected from across Australia and New Zealand for demonstrating a consistently high quality of customer service and innovation in her work while keeping sustainability at the heart of her approach.

The prize includes two Qantas business class travel tickets to an industry conference of her choice within the Asia-Pacific region, professional coaching and profiling for one year from Right Path, industry training opportunities, and Cruise360 conference tickets courtesy of the Cruise Lines International Association Australasia (CLIAA).

Avis regional managing director Tom Mooney, Personal Travel Manager and winner of the Avis Travel Agent Scholarship Melanie Whyte and last year’s winner Jo Patton.

Having been a finalist for the scholarship in previous years, Whyte impressed judges with her passion and loyalty to her clients, as well as her proven experience in providing outstanding holiday experiences for families with children who have special needs.

“The level of excellence Melanie shows with her work has set an industry-wide benchmark for customer service and we’re incredibly proud to recognise her as the winner of the 2019 Avis Scholarship,” Tom Mooney, regional managing director for Avis, said on the night.

“The focus on sustainability this year has opened our eyes to the breadth of unique talent across Australia and New Zealand, and we’re excited to see the industry continue to innovate with the changing needs of customers.”

Launched in 1996, the Avis Travel Agent Scholarship aims to encourage, recognise and reward outstanding customer service. Now in its 23rd year, the scholarship has evolved into one of the most valuable and prestigious awards offered to travel professionals across Australia and New Zealand.

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