When Emma Lucas signed on as TravelManagers newest personal travel manager (PTM) earlier this year, she became the company’s 600th mobile travel advisor. Having completed an extensive induction process with the National Partnership Office (NPO), she says she is excited to get started on the next phase in her career.
“Travel is not just my job – it’s my passion. Designing special holiday experiences for my customers is something I truly love doing.”
Lucas says she was attracted to the TravelManagers business model, which she believes will deliver the work-life balance she wants.
“I’m a mother of two young children so it’s important to me to be able to structure my workday around their needs,” she explains. “I love that I can fit my work around school drop-offs and pick-ups. I also love to keep fit and visit the gym often. The TravelManagers business model gives me the freedom and flexibility to achieve a great work-life balance and has a commission structure that makes it worth my while.”
TravelManagers’ 600th personal travel manager, Emma Lucas, is looking forward to feeding her love of travel in her new role
Lucas was a highly successful consultant in her previous role, picking up global awards that included #1 Travel Associates consultant world-wide and # 1 most improved consultant of all Flight Centre brands world-wide. She says the initial nerves she felt about joining a new company were quickly put to rest thanks to a comprehensive induction process and the support of the National Partnership Office (NPO).
“The support has been amazing. My Business Partnership Manager [BPM] has answered every question, big and small, and my fellow PTMs have also been very helpful and encouraging. Although I’m still something of a novice when it comes to the new systems, my induction training was extensive and I have been able to hit the ground running,” she adds.
TravelManagers’ Induction Class of February drew new PTMs from all over Australia: (L – R) back row: Emma Lucas VIC, Ashley Jade Cox WA, Michael Hayter WA, Julie Green SA, front row: Tanya Woo NSW, Melinda Lenton QLD and Paton Diwa WA.
Other PTMs who have joined TravelManagers in the last twelve months agree that their transitions were equally seamless. Ella Ceruti, who is TravelManagers’ representative for Monash, ACT, joined the company in November 2019, and says she felt supported, encouraged and valued throughout the process.
“When I first met with one of the BPMs to discuss my interest in becoming a PTM with TravelManagers, she outlined the business model with passion and conviction, and presented it to me in a sincere and transparent manner. Since then I have continued to be impressed with the professionalism, care and efficiency I have experienced every step of the way.”
Fellow newbie Stacey Farnham describes her first year as a PTM as so much more than she could have ever imagined, with a commission cheque that was even better than she had hoped.
As a member of TravelManagers’ PTM Induction Class of February 2020, Emma Lucas (3rd from left, back row) was impressed by the close relationship that exists between PTMs and the NPO support team.
“When making the decision to start working for myself, I thought I would be “by myself”, but boy was I wrong! I feel more supported now than ever before. Guidance from NPO is only a phone call away, and the PTM Facebook group is an invaluable asset to us all. The combined knowledge from all has brightened my horizons and I feel I have learnt so much in such a short time.”
Northern New South Wales-based PTM Tamara Tiffin joined TravelManagers in December 2018 and credits the support of NPO and her fellow PTMs with her success – both professional and financial – in the time since.
“I feel like I am being facilitated by a backup team – not working as the front-runner for a huge greedy heartless conglomerate. It feels like NPO works for PTMs, rather than the other way around!”
TravelManagers’ newest PTM Emma Lucas (centre) greeted by NPO team leaders: (L – R) Jose Canas – Fares & Ticketing Manager, Tania Myles – Marketing Manager, Suzanne Laister – National Partnership Manager, Pru Gallagher – Operations Manager and Tanyu Cilek – Finance & Commercial Manager
TravelManagers’ Chief Operating Officer, Grant Campbell says the company is delighted to have reached the 600-PTM milestone, noting that it’s taken just over 12 months to grow from the previous landmark of 550 PTMs.
“Not only that, but around half of our PTMs have been with us for five years or longer. We think that’s a pretty strong testimony to the TravelManagers business model and the support provided to PTMs, from accounts and product training to technology and business mentoring.”
All four recently joined PTMs say they have quickly found their feet with TravelManagers, and like Lucas, they are excited to capitalise on the opportunities that 2020 will bring.
“I love to travel and meet like-minded people, experience new things and create lasting memories, so as well as delivering a high level of service to my customers, I’m looking forward to taking part in some educational trips this year and increasing my travel expertise,” Lucas explains. “It can be hard to make a change when you are comfortable in a job, but I am so glad I have done it, and I can’t wait to see what the year will bring.”
For more information or to speak to someone confidentially about TravelManagers please contact Suzanne Laister on 1800 019 599.
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