THE INAUGURAL WOMEN IN TRAVEL AWARDS ARE STEAMROLLING ALONG WITH FINALISTS JUST REVEALED. ONE MAJOR SPONSOR OF THE EVENT IS NONE OTHER THAN THE TRAVEL CORPORATION (TTC).

The Travel Corporation provides holidays and experiences of a lifetime. Its commitment is to consistently deliver outstanding service, experience and value to each and every customer. With 30 Award-Winning Brands customers not only have ample selection, but each brand offers something unique they won’t find elsewhere.

We chat with Kate Tate, Head of Marketing Services & Partnerships about the upcoming Women in Travel Awards.

• What does the Women in Travel event mean to you?

I work with so many dedicated and intelligent women and have seen how empowering it is when women (and men) support and encourage one another. Women in particular tend to keep their accomplishments close to their chests, so having this opportunity to publically acknowledge those who are at the top of their game and actively supporting female colleagues is wonderful.

• Why did TTC sponsor the event?

TTC is firmly committed to gender equality and creating opportunities for women in the workplace, so it was a no brainer to get behind the Women in Travel Awards. This commitment comes from the top, TTC is a family company and the owners have expectations that staff are treated consistently with their strong values – something I can personally vouch for after nearly 20 years with the company.

It’s easy for companies to say they are equal opportunity employers but the stats have to back this up. We were very proud of the results of TTC’s last Gender Equality Report. As of July 2016, TTC’s senior executive management team was 55% female and 61% of department managers throughout the wider organisation were female.

We are committed to providing opportunities for growth, development and mentoring for women at TTC, so these awards were a must.

• This is the inaugural Women in Travel Awards in Australia. Why do you think this is an important event the travel industry should embrace?

I have a young daughter so I’m a firm believer in the power and importance of positive role models. Whether you’re taking your first steps in your career or an industry veteran, having a spotlight shone on women who are doing great things is an inspiration to us all.

They say the only certain things in life are death and taxes, but I think for anyone working today, ‘busy’ can be added to the list! Most of us are so busy juggling deadlines and commitments that we rarely take the time to stop and reflect on our own professional journeys.

Whether you entered, considered entering or have been reading about the inspiring women featured to date, the Women in Travel Awards are a real conversation starter and a catalyst for people to think about their own personal achievements and development areas, which will hopefully lead to even more entries next year!

• What are you looking forward to most about the event?

One of the greatest things about the travel industry is the people who work within it, so I’ll enjoy sharing a glass of champers with colleagues and friends. The past year has seen a number of world events that have impacted the travel industry but we’re a resilient bunch, so I’m looking forward to supporting all of the nominees and celebrating this industry in general.

• What’s the most important thing to focus on when it comes to women’s role in the travel industry?

We’re lucky to have many strong inspiring female leaders in the travel industry, but there’s always work to be done to ensure true gender equality. It’s important for companies to create inclusive, flexible and supportive environments, which allow women to reach their true potential. All industries, especially one that enables people to travel the world and experience different cultures, benefit from having a diversity of perspectives – whether that comes from age, ethnicity or gender.

Travel Weekly congratulates all the finalists in the Women in Travel Awards. Check out who’s in the running now.

The Women in Travel Awards will be presented at a gala cocktail function on 17 November in Sydney – reserve your seat now with Earlybird rates on offer – closing Monday!