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30 November, 2017

“It breaks my heart to bid you farewell”: TravelManagers suffer tragic loss

Let us start this article by saying how deeply sorry we are to all of those who knew Denise. Our condolences to all of you.

Personal travel manager (PTM) Denise Dean, representative for Hendra in Brisbane suffered a brain aneurism on Tuesday and died a few days later, on Friday 24 November, at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

The extremely sudden loss of the 59-year-old is a sad shock for the close-knit TravelManagers family.

TravelManagers Executive General Manager Michael Gazal said Dean will be sorely missed by all.

“Denise had just celebrated her three-year anniversary with the company and in that short time she had touched us all with her positivity, enthusiasm and complete love of life.

“Denise was a highly successful PTM and was simply a beautiful person inside and out. Denise’s sudden departure from this world has come as a complete shock and she will be greatly missed by us all,” he said.

It is a real testament to Denise’s popularity that PTMs in mass, have taken to social media to share their grief with hundreds of messages being received from PTMs around Australia.

“It is this sharing of memories and mutual support that is helping to provide comfort as PTMs come to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of our friend and colleague,” Gazal added.

Brisbane based PTM Simon Tinkler also shared a touching tribute on social media.

“Denise, I wish I could have told you more powerfully what I think about you: beautiful, welcoming, radiant, glamorous, classy, fun, caring, accepting and courageous.

“Every time you saw me, your face would light up and you would glide across the room like Judy Garland and we would do that gorgeous little kiss on the cheek and talk.

“Standing with you it all felt all so First Class with champagne. You put style and elegance back into our lives and helped me glimpse the golden age of travel. I loved your hair, your make up, your shoes, and your shining eyes.

“It breaks my heart to bid you farewell,” he said.

Denise, had been in the travel industry for 26 years, yet it was joining TravelManagers in 2014 that she felt really at home. Earlier this year she celebrated her personal best month of commission sales where she highlighted her passion for her clients and her love of being a PTM.

“Three years ago, I became a personal travel manager and I haven’t looked back. My clients inspire me and they are the reason I get out of bed every day. My family is number one, so being home and available is the greatest benefit for me of being home based and the opportunity to combine personal interests with travel has been a dream come true,” she said.

Karen Dowling, Denise’s QLD BPM, worked intimately with Denise throughout the past three years.

“Denise was the epitome of a Personal Travel Manager; her integrity and passion for the industry, her clients and fellow PTM’s was infinite.

“Denise was an instrumental campaigner for the TravelManagers brand and was profusely generous with her time, guidance and support to her fellow colleagues and suppliers. Denise was awarded the 2017 Advocate Award at this year’s annual TravelManagers Conference in Darwin,” she said.

“On a personal note,” Dowling added, “Above all, Denise was my friend. She was compassionate, thoughtful, elegant and inspiring. All those who knew her will wholeheartedly agree, Denise is simply irreplaceable.

Dean leaves behind a husband and three children.

“Denise’s family are understandably completed devastated and slowly coming to terms with the sudden loss of their wife and mother,” said Gazal.

Dean’s funeral service will be held at 10am on Thursday 30 November at St. Agatha’s Parish Church at 52 Oriel Road, Clayfield.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Queensland Brain Institute.

From everyone here at Travel Weekly, we offer our deepest condolences for the loss of Denise.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Denise Dean Queensland Brain Institute. travelmanagers