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The challenges that sprang from a second year of COVID could easily have resulted in the travel industry feeling decidedly Grinch-like this Christmas, but TravelManagers’ personal travel managers (PTMs) and National Partnership Office (NPO) team instead chose to celebrate their collective resilience with a series of festive gatherings in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.
More than 120 attendees participated across the five Christmas parties, the first of which took place at Perth’s Rendezvous Hotel. When the original event, which had been planned for 21 December, was cancelled due to ongoing border restrictions, local PTM Kelly Savka stepped in to arrange an alternative Christmas party, which she described as “a laidback afternoon enjoying drinks, charcuterie platter and chats.”
“Six of us even decided to spend the night so we could make the most of our time together, and although no-one from NPO was able to join us in person, it was great to be able to have a chat with members of the NPO team via Zoom.”
In Sydney, a total of twelve from NPO were joined by 36 PTMs from around New South Wales for an afternoon at Vapiano King Street.
“It was lovely to be joined by two of our newest PTMs – Joanne Miller and Mary Maljevac, both of whom joined within the last five months,” notes Sydney based Business Partnership Manager, Julie McLean.
This was followed by events for South Australia (at the Lion Hotel in North Adelaide), Victoria (at the Common Man in South Melbourne) and Queensland (at Brisbane’s Prince Consort in Fortitude Valley).
According to Corrine Mutz, representative for Upper Sturt, SA, enhanced border restrictions and the potential for further restrictions to be introduced meant that TravelManagers’ CEO Joe Araullo and COO Grant Campbell were late withdrawals for the South Australia Christmas party.
Queensland PTMs were the last state to enjoy Christmas festivities, and although increasing COVID concerns meant that their event was attended by fewer than originally expected, those who did attend were delighted to be joined by a number of NPO representatives, including TravelManagers’ CEO Joe Araullo and COO Grant Campbell.
For many of the attending PTMs, the Christmas parties were an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends, many of which they have only seen via a Zoom screen this year.
“It was such a fabulous night, and so good to finally get together and enjoy lots of laughs and a few stories over a drink or two,” says Julie Lunn, representative for Ferntree Gully, VIC. “We have the most amazing supportive caring team of people at TravelManagers, and without them I just don’t know how I would have survived the last two years.”
“I feel incredibly privileged to be part of the TravelManagers family,” agrees JP Boutefeu, representative for Albert Park, VIC. “After months and months of endless support, despite the world going mad, it was wonderful to finally meet up for Christmas drinks. Laughter, positive vibes and team spirit were shared by all, and we left feeling ready for 2022 – in which we are going to make travel awesome again!”

WA – Image 1: PTM Kelly Savka (front row on left) organised a catch-up for WA-based PTMs at Perth’s Rendezvous Central Hotel. (L-R) back row Erryn Morris, Doug Harman, Alison Parker, Michelle Edmead, Michelle Smith, Tanya Stevens, Linda Power, Daiana Magalhaes; front row Kelly Savka, Vikki Southern, Carolynne Cannon

WA Image 2: Border closures meant TravelManagers’ CEO, Joe Araullo, attended the WA Christmas party via Zoom.

SA image 1:
A fun-filled afternoon catch-up provided the ideal start to the festive season for TravelManagers’ (L-R) Lucrezia Caruso, Philippa Williams, Catherine James, John La Bella, Jan Chappell, Carolyn Johnston, Belinda Woodroofe and Corinne Mutz

SA image 2: Comparing notes over on a year like no other – PTMs (L-R) Catherine James and John La Bella.

VIC image 1: PTM Julie Lunn is grateful to her colleagues and the NPO team for their support in getting through 2021: (L-R) TravelManagers CEO Joe Araullo, Julie Lunn, Sharon Wright, Alyssa Pretorius, Trish Clowes, Debbie Tripp and Kerrin Poupos

VIC image 2: 39 PTMs were joined by 8 from TravelManagers’ NPO team at Melbourne’s Common Man in South Melbourne, including (L-R) Penny Trevaud, Dariusz Buchowiecki, Helen Rolton, Karin Evert, Theresa Kwong, Troy Coelho (NPO), Di Yates, Tanyu Cilek (NPO) and Debbie Bean

NSW image 1: (L-R) PTMs Tanya Tyler, Nat Miller, Debbie Chounding, Cathy Moir, Maria Miller, Robbie Barrett, Louise Gillogly, Julianne Gazal-Rizk and Anita Medcalf were among the 48 PTMs and NPO team members to gather for a pre-Christmas celebration at Sydney’s Vapiano King Street

NSW image 2: NSW-based PTMs (L-R) Michelle Schulze, Judith Smith and Virginia Stace enjoyed an afternoon of great food and great company

QLD image 1: A relatively small but very festive group of QLD-based PTMs enjoyed dinner together at Brisbane’s Prince Consort: (L-R) Kerstin Rheinlander, Christie Gowan, Valerie Ireland, Karen Murray and Kerry Cleasby, with TravelManagers’ CEO Joe Araullo at centre

QLD image 2: The travel industry may have spent the last two years in what felt like the naughty corner, but at TravelManagers’ state Christmas functions, everyone was ensured a spot on the “nice” list – including TravelManagers’ COO Grant Campbell (left), CEO Joe Araullo (right) and Queensland BPM Karen Dowling (centre).
For more information or to speak to someone confidentially about TravelManagers please contact Graciela Craig on 1800 019 599.