Iconic Australian tour group AAT Kings is celebrating the return of three colleagues to the business, in newly appointed roles. Jody Grossfeldt has been named GM of Operations & Experiences, Ben Allen has been appointed AAT Kings Group Sales Manager ITO/OTA and John Gornall returns as Northern Territory General Manager.
Jody has a demonstrated history of working in the leisure, travel & tourism industry, with skills in Leisure Travel, Incentive Travel, Sales, Hotel Management, and Tour Operators. She previously held multiple roles including Head of Day Tours and Head of Guest Experiences with AAT Kings from 2012-2021 before briefly departing to pursue a role with Transport for NSW. Her return as GM of Operations & Experiences for AAT Kings Group will see her forever improving the travel experience for guests, as well as new product opportunities with the help of her dedicated and highly skilled team.
Ben returns to AAT Kings having started in sales in Brisbane in 2004 before working his way up to National Sales Manager in 2010, 11 and 12. Since then he has worked almost exclusively in the OTA / Travel Tech space with the likes of Amadeus, Hotelbeds, Expedia Group and most recently Stuba. In his new role he will be tasked with looking after global relationships with OTA and Inbound partners, whilst also taking on the sales lead role for SEIT Outback Adventures and assisting with Down Under Tours. 
As Northern Territory General Manager, John will be leading the company’s team in the Red Centre and Top End, improving efficiencies and overseeing the recruitment of new Driver Guide and Travel Directors. Previously, he held a wide array of roles with the business before departing in 2019, including Northern Territory Manager, Top End Manager, Operations Manager (Darwin) and Senior Operations Supervisor. Now, he is excited to return and take his extensive experience in tourism products to the next level.
“It’s a privilege to return to the AAT Kings Group, leading my talented team and supporting them to make every single tour an extraordinary one. Our guest is at the heart of everything we do at AAT Kings, and our focus is ensuring we continue to give travellers the very best experience possible, every step of the way.” said Jody Grossfeldt
“Early into my travel career I was able to lead the AAT Kings Group sales team nationally, now returning to the company I am excited to start building on this great business to help achieve mutual goals with our valued partners – we have some exciting years ahead of us and I’m eager to get started,” said Ben Allen.
“I am thrilled to be returning to the AAT Kings team as Northern Territory General Manager. While it has only been a couple of years since I left the business, I could not be more eager to be welcomed back, and kick off by ensuring each guest has their best travel experience yet when embarking on an AAT Kings tour in the NT,” said John Gornall.
“There is nothing better than having valued staff return to the AAT Kings business further down their career path, re-joining the company and bringing with them the wisdom and knowledge their other endeavours have given them,” said Ben Hall, CEO of AAT Kings. “It is not only a testament to the company and the culture we have created but also to our people, whose dedication see them not only staying with the company for years on end but returning to us to pursue their next challenge.”
