TravelManagers Reward VIP Clients at Spring Racing Carnival Corporate Suite

A select group of TravelManagers’ Melbourne based clients recently experienced their personal travel manager’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking, by being invited to a VIP client event on the first day of the Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington Racecourse.

Following such incredible client feedback from their inaugural client day last year, it was an easy decision for Victoria business partnership manager’s Kellie Browning and Scott Hallo with the assistance of Carl Matto, Senior Sales Executive Emirates, to organize another event at this years themed Sofitel Girls Day Out.

“Life is so busy and personal travel managers often struggle to take the time to have fun and spend quality time with their clients. The feedback we received from clients and personal travel managers who attended last year’s event was overwhelmingly positive so we knew we had to do it again. It’s a fantastic way for personal travel managers to spoil their clients and thank them for their valued support, loyalty and ongoing business,” says Browning.

Eleven personal travel managers hosted their key clients in the Emirates Corporate Suite.

MTA receives Insight Vacations ‘Elite Agency Award’ accolade for third year in a row

MTA co-managing director, Karen Merricks (pictured centre) receiving an Insight Vacations ‘Elite Agency Award’ from the tour operator’s Global CEO, John Boulding (left) and Managing Director, Alexandra O’Connor (right) at the Insight Vacations High Achievers Awards dinner taking place in Brisbane.

This is the third year running MTA has received the high volume sales-based ‘Elite Agency Award’ having achieved similar accolades in 2014 and 2015.

Adding further reasons to celebrate on the night, MTA also received recognition to mark its double achievement in becoming one of Insight Vacations’ top five best product sellers nationally and top three in Queensland.

Travel Counsellors take digital strategy to next level with new appointment

Travel Counsellors have announced the appointment of a Director of Digital and Innovation as the company continues to focus on building its digital offering and innovations across the business.

The new role has been taken on by Waseem Haq, who joins Travel Counsellors with over 20 years’ experience in the technology arena, most recently as Digital Strategy Director for multinational consumer goods company PZ Cussons. He will now work across the digital and marketing teams globally from the company’s UK headquarters to develop the company’s digital strategy and the support it gives to over 1,500 Travel Counsellor franchisees.

Travel Counsellors Managing Director Steve Byrne comments; “Digital is one of the key strategic pillars of our business and this is a new and exciting role for someone who lives and breathes digital and believes passionately in the importance of culture and people in driving commercial success. We are confident Waseem fits this bill with his vast experience in this field and the fact he naturally shares and relates to the company’s values and business model of caring, people, service and relationships. He will now lead and drive our digital strategy and spearhead the evolution of the business to be fully digitally enabled.”

Excite Holidays rewards agents with an exclusive famil to Singapore

Excite Holidays, in partnership with itravel and Scoot Airlines recently whisked away nine lucky travel agents on an exclusive famil to Singapore and Bintan.

The top selling agents were provided with four nights’ accommodation from Hotelbeds, local sightseeing tours, activities and return airfares flying Scoot.

The famil experience kicked off with a luxurious stay at Mandarin Orchard hotel in Singapore where agents were able to recharge and feel energised to explore all that this electric city has to offer. Agents were guided through the city by those who know it best, the wonderful team at Singapore Tourism Board, with highlights including a tour of Gardens by the Bay and sampling local cuisine in the illustrious Chinatown district.

Sno’n’Ski took 9 lucky travel agents across the ditch to explore Methven & ski Mt Hutt

Methven is a scenic 1hr drive from Christchurch Airport and where the group called home for an action packed four days; filled with epic ski runs, breathtaking scenery and all capped off with true Kiwi hospitality.

The group hit the ground running; their first afternoon included a stop at Rakaia Gorge where they jumped on the Discovery Jet and were whipped along the braided river beneath the dramatic scenery of the Southern Alps. Sporting grins from ear to ear the day concluded at Ski Time Lodge, devouring delicious, locally sourced meals and NZ wine. Following bacon and eggs for breakfast on Saturday morning it was time to ski. All aboard the Ski Bus! And no waiting in line behind queues of cars, the V.I.P group had a taste of their clients door to door experience – transported right to the base building and not a minute wasted hitting the slopes! Lucky ducks; after fresh snow fall the week before; the sky cleared for a blue bird day and perfect powdery runs which was a treat for all of the beginner Travel Agents.

Mt Hutt showcased its fantastic facilities, and in no time at all the team were fitted out with high-quality rental gear and ready for their lessons. With a good mix of first timers, novices and intermediates on the famil they were really able to test the mountains offerings. It did not disappoint! Not only were the intermediates taking on the black runs, the novices took on the greens and blues post-lesson. Hubers Café catered lunch on the mountain, and to compliment the blue bird conditions Sno’n’Ski’s NZ product guru Lauren, thought ‘why not’ and encouraged the team to jump on a scenic flight over the mountain with Christchurch Heli. To cap off an epic first day on the slopes the agents were treated to a mouth-watering 3 course dinner at award-winning Stronechurbie, Mt Somers – unanimous feedback was that the fresh New Zealand fare is really something.

MTA ‘Insight Top Achiever’ visits the Baltic

Pictured standing in the grounds of picturesque Wilanow Palace in Warsaw, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents’ Jennifer McCullough who recently visited Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as part of an Insight Vacations’ Top Achievers study tour.

WA Travel Counsellors check out Air New Zealand’s New Dreamliner

In order to keep up-to-date with the latest aviation trends and aircraft improvements, four Travel Counsellors recently completed an aircraft inspection at Perth Airport. Joined by Jacqueline Tan from Air New Zealand, Nadine New, Clare Hardie, Chrissie Shah and Cheryl Richmond all inspected Air New Zealand’s new Dreamliner. With New Zealand being a highly popular destination for Australian travellers, the Travel Counsellors team were keen to inspect what Air New Zealand’s fleet had to offer.

“I am very impressed with this Air New Zealand’s new Dreamliner. While Air New Zealand is a trusted carrier, when it comes to booking flights, it’s a highly competitive market out there, so airlines really have to offer something different to be able to compete. I’m glad I had a chance to experience Air New Zealand’s fleet up close – while you can read up on aviation developments and ask other agents for their opinion, nothing compares to seeing and experiencing things for yourself,” comments Nadine New of Palmyra.