World Resorts of Distinction has announced the appointment of sustainable travel advocate and industry virtuoso, Tess Willcox, as owner and CEO.

The Travel Corporation has announced the appointment of a new sales manager for the South Island, Tracey Brown. Brown brings with her a vast amount of on road, travel retail and leadership experience.

World Resorts of Distinction (WRD) has appointed Nina Richards to the role of resort marketing manager.

Travel agents are being urged to remind self driving clients to ensure their NZ driving licenses are not past expiry date and also to check whether these clients need an International Driving Permit (IDP).

Sarah Hunter has been appointed general manager, GO Holidays in New Zealand. Hunter recently returned to New Zealand after nearly seven years in the UAE where she completed her MBA with Strathclyde University, before taking up a senior leadership role within dnata’s B2C Middle East and India travel business.

Reporting to head of wholesale & inbound, Cinzia Burnes, Hunter will be charged with maximising GO Holiday’s B2B relationships to position them as the wholesaler of choice for New Zealand’s retail travel industry. For Hunter, there will be a ring of familiarity to the role, having previously headed up GO Holidays and worked with the business through the mid 90’s up until 2010. Hunter says however that this is ‘very much a new chapter, as opposed to a return.’ Hunter will commence her new role on 16 July based in the Auckland offices.

Having a passion for selling travel, a commercial background and the guidance of mentors are the keys for a good start in the industry, says Tracey LeeLewis, of helloworld Waipukurau.

Lee-Lewis is a finalist in the TAANZ National Travel Industry Awards 2018 and has been in the travel industry for nine months. She says that having travelled across the world, ‘though there are still many stones unturned,’ she is passionate about making others’ dreams comes true. ‘And working as a lawyer for the 10 years prior to my entry into the travel industry has given me a good commercial understanding of how a successful business operates. Plus with the help and guidance of an inspiring mentor – the helloworld family – I have been able to hit the ground running.’ She says holidays to Australia and the South Pacific are ‘bread and butter’ business. ‘But we also have a strong cruising clientele, river cruising in particular. My involvement in the running of the business will allow my business partner (and mother, Ellen Lee) to focus on tours and escorted group travel.

World Resorts of Distinction has a change of ownership.

Mike Southcombe from Travel Advocates is hitting the road to talk to people considering becoming a Personal Travel Manager. His journeys will take him to main centres and towns in regions across New Zealand.

Richard Birkby is joining Wanaka ski area Treble Cone as Brand Manager. An experienced marketer with 20 years’ experience working for internationally renowned brands in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, Birkby starts his new role in mid-June. 

He moved to Wanaka from Sydney, where he worked for leading advertising and marketing agency HOST, nearly five years ago because he wanted to spend more time skiing. In his fiqrst year in Wanaka he commuted weekly to Auckland where he was group business director for world-class creative agency Colenso BBDO, before spending three years as head of brand and marketing at Wanaka-based Mons Royale.

Seeing brokers accepted as true professionals in the travel industry has been one of the most significant (and satisfying) developments for Dave Wallace, who retires as general manager of Travel Managers Group at the end of this year.

Former TAANZ board member and SKAL Auckland president Ross Manson is leaving the travel industry (at least for now) and moving from Auckland to Nelson, where his career began.

Two Flight Centre stalwarts are celebrating 30 years with the company next month – and though their careers within the company have gone in different directions there was an early cross over in their paths. Lynaire (Harry) Monnery is a Flight Centre Travel Broker, based in Thorndon, Wellington. (TRAVELinc Memo published her story last Friday, 11 May.) Sue Matson is national leader – retail brands with the Fight Centre Travel Group based in Wellington.

Sue Matson

Sue Matson started with the company at what was originally called Wellington Flight Centre. ‘This was the same name as a flying school based at the airport, which was a bit of an issue when people called to ask if we could teach them to fly – but of course we could! That shop is still operating – it’s changed names and locations a few times and now sits on Willis Street.’ Matson says she was a travel consultant who ‘started knowing nothing and learnt something every day for the six years I spent on the front line.’ Matson has been with Flight Centre Travel Group since then but has had (at last count) something like 10 different jobs in the 30 years. ‘Each one of those roles has taken me out of my comfort zone and challenged my personal belief in my abilities. FCTG has had a knack at believing in me before I have believed in myself and I guess I’ve gone on to prove them right. Anything is possible when someone believes in you and that’s very rewarding.’

Matson says challenges over the years have varied depending on her role. ‘In the front line, customers are the biggest challenge and the greatest reward. Once you realise it is all about building strong and personal relationships with your customers, then you will always find success. It’s about integrity and trust… and a bit of humour.’ In support roles customers ultimately remain the focus she says. ‘However our (Flight Centre) people become the challenge and the joy. The frustration can be where people don’t see the potential in their situation or themselves but the joy and reward is when they get it – and they start to see great personal success and – wow, how they grow. Matson says the leisure travel industry will always be about making the customer experience ‘more and more fabulous – both before, during and after the trip. ‘Technology will play a massive part in bringing all those pieces together, but I feel we will move more towards intimate and rewarding one on one relationships between customers and travel experts. If you ask any customer who has relied upon the skills, knowledge and relationship with a great travel expert over a number of years they will say having this relationship is what makes it work for them.’

Two Flight Centre stalwarts are celebrating 30 years with the company next month – and though their careers within the company have gone in different directions there was an early cross over in their paths. Lynaire (Harry) Monnery is a Flight Centre travel broker, based in Thorndon, Wellington. Sue Matson is national leader – retail brands with the Fight Centre Travel Group based in Wellington.

Adam Armstrong will join Silversea Cruises as managing director Australia & New Zealand. Currently associate vice president & managing director Australia & New Zealand for Royal Caribbean, Armstrong joins Silversea at a time of growth and a period of significant investment in Australia and New Zealand for the cruise line.

Pacific Resort Hotel New Caledonia Group (PRHG) and its partner properties, Moana Sands Group and Royale Takitumu have appointed Victoria Goodwin into a sales representative role.

Goodwin will be working with PRHG’s retail partners in both New Zealand and Australia and will also be running the Pacific Pearls programme, a popular incentive scheme for travel agents selling PRHG properties.

Scenic Hotel Group has appointed Bharath Satyavolu to the newly created position of group director of commercial.

Satyavolu joins the group in its Christchurch head oce from his previous Singapore-based postings with the Oakwood Asia Group and prior to that, the Marina Mandarin Hotel Singapore where he held senior revenue