TravelManagers’ annual national conference begins in Sydney today, bringing together personal travel managers (PTMs), National Partnership Office (NPO) team and partner suppliers in what promises to be a vibrant celebration after a three-year pandemic hiatus.
Peter Needham is covering the conference for Global Travel Media.
The theme of this year’s conference is “TOGETHER”. It celebrates the opportunity for PTMs from around Australia to gather for the first time since the 2019 conference in Perth.
“The registration numbers reflect the huge enthusiasm within the TravelManagers family to return for what promises to be one of our best-ever conferences,” said TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal.
“We are also looking forward to welcoming back many of our preferred partner suppliers, including our five Platinum sponsors: The Travel Corporation, Qantas, Amadeus, Worlds Leading Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International.”
In keeping with TravelManagers’ tradition of entertaining and inspiring conferences, attendees met last night at a welcome cocktail function – and word at the event was that a total of about 340 delegates were in attendance.
Above (from left): Lisa Lee and Karen Macmillan, Hong Kong Tourism Board, with Rashelle Thompson, APT Travel Group, at the TravelManagers welcome cocktail function last night
Also making a return to the TravelManagers conference is Amanda Stevens, a renowned thought leader on the customer experience who, according to Gazal, captivated the audience during her opening keynote address in 2019.
“Amanda is a brilliant speaker with extensive experience in consumer psychology and marketing,” Gazal said.
“In addition to once again providing the opening address, we are thrilled that she has also agreed to take on a new role as our first-ever MC. We know that she will ensure the conference is right mix of business and fun for a post-Covid celebration.”
In addition to Stevens, Gazal says conference attendees will hear from four PTM speakers during the two-day event, along with Gavin Smith, Vice President and Managing Director of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd for Australia and New Zealand, who is scheduled to appear as a special guest speaker. In addition, attendees will hear from a duo of NPO speakers: Sandra Leslie and Sandra Reucker, who jointly manage TravelManagers’ day-to-day supplier relationships.
The home-based travel brand is enjoying a strong post-Covid recovery, with the average
value of sales per PTM in August up by 47% compared with the same month in pre-pandemic 2019.
“In fact, August 2022 has been our best-ever August for total sales, and our ninth-highest for any month on record,” Gazal adds.
During the conference, Gazal says attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops and a supplier trade show, as well as taking part in an open-forum discussion. There will also be a review of 2020 and 2021, including the ongoing development of the newly launched ‘TravelManagers Customer Fund’ (TCF).
2021 Sports Hall of Fame inductee will deliver the closing address, Jana Pittman, whose roller-coaster story of triumph and defeat, failure and success is sure to provide an uplifting and inspiring conclusion to the conference.
“We always like to end the conference on a high note, and this year will be no different,” Gazal adds. “On Friday evening we have our customary gala dinner – this year with a Studio 54 theme.”
Alma Araullo is among the 170-plus PTMs registered to attend: having attended all twelve previous conferences, she says she wouldn’t dream of missing this year’s long-anticipated event: “it’s exciting to find out what’s next in travel, and the training and networking keep me at my best for my clients.”
Maria Miller, a Parkes, NSW representative, is also attending her 13th TravelManagers conference.
“It has been so long since we have all been able to get together. I always walk away from the conference feeling rejuvenated, motivated and ready to take on whatever may come my way. It’s a wonderful way to catch up with the TravelManagers family, share experiences and have a lot of fun at the same time.”
For more information or to speak to someone confidentially about TravelManagers, please contact Graciela Craig on 1800 019 599.
