As the latest in a series of steps towards a post-COVID normal, TravelManagers recently completed their first round of in-person state meetings since the pandemic hit. After two years of regular Zoom-based meetings, these in-person state-based events were well-attended by personal travel managers (PTMs), the National Partnership Office (NPO) team and supplier partners.
From Melbourne on 1 March through to Perth at the latter end of the month, more than 160 PTMs attended across five states, with a total of 270-plus participants following a subsequent virtual version of the event on 31 March. TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal, says the meetings offered not just the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and industry partners but also to celebrate the achievements of the previous year.
“The response from PTMs, and their commitment to attending, was remarkable,” he reports. “Some travelled hundreds of kilometres to be there, and one drove three and a half hours to get around floodwaters in New South Wales.”
As well as receiving updates and training from NPO representatives and suppliers, the meetings were also a chance to present certificates to those PTMs who have achieved the milestones of five, ten or fifteen years in partnership with TravelManagers. Each state also celebrated TravelManagers’ seventeenth birthday with the cutting of a birthday cake.
Gazal says the feedback received from many of those who attended the state meetings was not dissimilar to the sentiments expressed by Western Australia-based PTM Lyndall Hewitt:
“Beforehand I was feeling deflated: my confidence had completely withered, along with my passion for travel, and I just couldn’t see how I could make it all work in my favour again. Spending the day with other PTMs and NPO staff, talking about travel again, helped to transform my mindset and reignited my passion for the industry. It reminded me that I love what I do, and I love the awesome bunch of people at TravelManagers.”
PTM Sue Wright (2nd from left) with NPO’s Grant Campbell, Michael Gazal and Karen Dowling.
56 PTMs gathered at Melbourne’s Crowne Plaza Hotel to enjoy their first in-person state meeting in two years.
Close to 50 PTMs gathered in Sydney’s Castlereagh Boutique Hotel for the NSW state meeting.
PTMs travelled far and wide to attend TravelManagers’ state meetings, including Sue Wright, who travelled from Far North Queensland to Brisbane.
Each state celebrated TravelManagers’ 17th birthday with another spectacular cake – in Perth (L-R) Executive General Manager Michael Gazal, Chief Operator Officer Grant Campbell and CEO Joe Araullo.
Lisa Metzl, a 31-year travel industry veteran and TravelManagers first and longest serving personal travel manager is congratulated by chair Barry Mayo on her 17th anniversary during the NSW State Meeting.
PTMs Liza Beylerian and Di Yates (centre left and right) were among the PTMs who received recognition of fifteen years’ partnership with TravelManagers at the Victoria state meeting.
West Australian PTM Kathy Millet, reigning ‘NTIA Best Mobile Travel Advisor 2019’, enjoys a post conference/pre-dinner drink with fellow PTM Doug Harman.
For more information or to speak to someone confidentially about TravelManagers please contact Graciela Craig on 1800 019 599.
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