In response to strong demand from niche tourism businesses and agency networks alike, Evolution Travel Collective (ETC) is launching a new service offering; the assignment of a National Account Manager (NAM) for specialist partners, alongside its established suite of representation services.
Since its launch at the end of 2018, ETC has disrupted the travel-industry representation model with its hybrid approach to agency BDM support, head office management & contracting, trade marketing and consultancy services across Australia & New Zealand.
After consulting with several of its agency network partners and identifying a growing gap in the market, ETC has developed a new service tailored for multiple specialist businesses seeking to engage with trade partners. This bespoke, high-touch and targeted offering differs from ETC’s existing model of providing multiple BDMs across state-based regions in Australia and New Zealand, instead offering a more focused and strategic account management solution.
“This new offering is a direct response to market feedback,” says Co-Founder & Managing Director, Ingrid Berthelsen. “Our agency partners told us time and again: ‘we have more than one niche brand that needs the representation and servicing of an account manager but isn’t big enough to utilise your full multi-state BDM team’. We saw no one else in our space within the market delivering exactly that. So, we built it.”
The first appointment under the new model is Peter Topping, who joins ETC as National Account Manager. Immediately he has commenced work with ETC’s inaugural NAM-client, Vio Travel, the online DMC specialising in bespoke Asia focused travel experiences. Under Peter’s guidance Vio Travel will benefit from a singular point of contact for all trade-engagement, strategy, and performance reporting — enabling deeper collaboration with ETC’s experienced management team.
“Peter’s appointment marks the evolution of our representation framework,” Berthelsen adds. “He will act as the bridge between specialist business and the full suite of ETC services — agency engagement, training, contracting, trade marketing, performance analytics — all under one accountable leadership.”
ETC’s proven shared-services model continues to underpin this new offering, delivering cost-effective representation whilst driving brand-specific growth. With partners already citing success from ETC’s original multi-BDM model, the introduction of a NAM service adds a layer of strategic alignment and dedicated ownership, particularly suited for niche suppliers seeking to scale their agency footprint.
“More targeted opportunities delivered by a single point of accountability is what many of our niche partners have asked for,” notes Berthelsen. “Today we can say: we have the solution”.
