Paparazzo
At the Globus roadshow ...
Globus family of brands (GFOB) wraps up its Departure Lounge roadshow in WLG tonight.
It’s the last stop on a six city tour that started in AKL and has since visited TRG, CHC, HLZ and PMR.
GFOB business development manager Megan Hornblow says the event attracted 80 agents in Auckland and has been averaging around 40 in other centres.
‘We’ve been promoting new tours, brochures and combinations,’ Hornblow says. ‘We’ve got plenty of news to talk about but it’s also just a good chance to mix and mingle with people outside of the store environment. It’s important to get in front of agents and give them a chance to ask questions.’
At the GFOB event in Hamilton... Chantal Grim, Flight Centre Cambridge; Megan Hornblow, Globus family of brands; Stefan Ryder, Flight Centre Te Awa
Megan O’Halloran, HoT Hamilton; Brenda White, HoT Morrinsville; Sarah McKerrow. GFOB; Courtney McCormack, Lucy Hopping, both HoT Morrinsville
Brooke Thompson, Helloworld Rototuna; Sandy Wilson, HLO Hamilton Central; Bridgette Smith-Baillie, HLO Rototuna
Kirsty McCartney, Karen McIntosh, both NZ Travel Brokers; Nicky Knowles, Travel Advocates
Kelsey Mackay, Alison Jenkins, both HOT Hamilton East; Marianne Rowley, NZ Travel Brokers
Kalena Flinlayson, Momento Group; Michelle Taylor, Travel Advocates; Nicole Archibald, Travel Managers
BIG thinking at FTG conference
An Ultimate Cruise workshop, extensive trade show, awards and a BIG (best in game) theme were all features of First Travel Group’s 2025 conference at Grand Millennium Auckland over the weekend.
Some 170 participants – including FTG members, suppliers and other partners – took part in the programme.
A full awards ceremony and gala dinner saw both supplier and supreme ‘gongs’. Among the names frequently called out were Pukekohe Travel, Fortis Travel and YOU Travel & Cruise Bethlehem. Other agencies who had people walk to the stage more than once included YOU Travel & Cruise Orewa, Cruise Connections and North Shore Business Travel.
Supreme awards were: Aspiring consultant, Shannara Robinson, Best Travel and Cruises; Top broker, Jo O’Neill, Holland Clarke and Beatson; Top cruise consultant, Lisa Wharfe, Pukekohe Travel; Top corporate consultant, Leah Morresey, YOU Travel & Cruise Feilding; Top supporter, Tracey Gorst, YOU Travel & Cruise Bethlehem.
During the evening special recognition (and a standing ovation) was given to Russell (Rusty) Willis who is retiring from Hawaiian Airlines.
The full list of supplier awards winners at the First Travel Group gala dinner:
Air New Zealand top agency growth: Concept Travel/Ski Travel
Air New Zealand top revenue: Fortis Travel
Allianz recognition: Pukekohe Travel
APT/Travel Marvel top performance: YOU Travel Bethlehem
Creative Cruising recognition: YOU Travel Bethlehem
Creative Cruising top agency growth: YOU Travel & Cruise Waihi
Cover-More Insurance top performance: YOU Travel & Orewa
Croatia Times Travel appreciation: YOU Travel & Cruise Ferrymead
Cruise World top performance: Pukekohe Travel
Emirates top performance: North Shore Business Travel
Express Tickets top performance: Zest4Travel
Fiji Airways top agency and top growth: Our Pacific
Francis Travel Marketing top agency: Cruise Connections
Globus Family of Brands: Pukekohe Travel
GO Holidays top performance: YOU Travel & Cruise Bethlehem
Holland America Line top agency sales: YOU Travel Bethlehem
Journey Beyond highest FIT sales: Pukekohe Travel
Norwegian Cruise Lines rising star: Olivia Harter, YOU Travel & Cruise Orewa
Oceania top seller: Julie Seivwright, YOU Travel & Cruise Taupo
Qantas top performance: Fortis Travel
Qatar Airways top recognition: Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel
Rail Europe top performance and recognition award: The Private Travel Company
Scenic Group top recognition: Cruise Connections
Seabourn top agency: North Shore Business Travel
Singapore Airlines top performance: Fortis Travel
The Travel Corporation top store: Pukekohe Travel
Total Holiday Options top performance: YOU Travel Whitianga
United Airlines top performance: Fortis Travel
Uniworld top performance: YOU Travel & Cruise Manly, YOU Travel & Cruise Orewa
Viking top performer: Pukekohe Travel
Viking spirit: Libby Stafford, Cruise Connections
Wendy Wu top performer: YOU Travel & Cruise Bethlehem
Wild Earth Travel top recognition: Kiri Martin, YOU Travel & Cruise Orewa
World Journeys top perfromace: North Shore Business Travel
t the FTG BIG tradeshow…Lynsey Brown, World Journeys; Sian Loh, YOU Travel & Cruise Bethlehem; Davina Bennetto, World Journeys
Nigel Seidelin, Express Tickets and Jane Jones, GO Holidays
First Travel Group’s Chris Armstrong, John Willson, Rachel Drake, Ali Salmon and Fynnola Campbell
Megan Porter, NCL; Olivia Harter, YOU Travel & Cruise Orewa
Paula Kerr, Singapore Airlines; Mandy Nicod, Blair Huston, Fortis Travel
Anita Thomas, Total Holiday Options (centre) with Monett Johnston and Diana Williams, both YOU Travel & Cruise Whitianga
Jill Wilkinson, APT / Travelmarvel; Kay Rogers, YOU Travel Bethlehem
The YOU Travel & Cruise Ferrymead team… Amy Crossden, Melissa Landrebe, Brittany Frost, Tanya Cross, Sandra Toland
Jenna Allan, Tegan Roney, Creative Cruising
Olivia Harter, YOU Travel & Cruise Orewa; Sarah Brensell and Tammy Biggs, both YOU Travel & Cruise Waihi
Tina Ripley, YOU Travel & Cruise New Lynn; Matt Jenkins, Air New Zealand
That’ll do nicely… Pukekohe Travel’s Damian O’Connor, Lisa Wharfe, and Craig Boyt celebrate success at the FTG awards
Rising star Shannara Robinson, Best Travel & Cruise with FTG’s Paul Smith and Kylie Crouch
Kiri Martin, YOU Travel & Cruise Orewa with Sarah Porter, Wild Earth Travel
Julie Seivwright, YOU Travel & Cruise Taupo; Dani Enes, Oceania Cruises
Libby Stafford, Cruise Connections caught up with Viking's Steve Parker
Auckland updates at Skål lunch
Skål International Auckland’s October gathering at the Sudima Auckland City Hotel brought together a lineup of speakers and industry updates that offered insights into the future of tourism and professional development.
Annie Dundas, director of destinations at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited shared the organisation’s vision for Auckland’s global positioning, highlighting a calendar of upcoming events and strategic enhancements aimed at boosting the region’s tourism appeal.
Andrew Gay, chairperson of TIME NZ (Travel Industry Mentor Experience), encouraged attendees to consider becoming mentors or enrolling themselves – or their rising stars – into the programme.
With intakes now full until early 2026, Gay emphasised that now is the perfect time to get involved and invest in the next generation of travel professionals.
Amy Tregidga from Crown Institute of Studies introduced Crown’s upcoming Hospitality & Tourism Level 7 Diploma – the first of its kind for the institute. She invited feedback from members and guests to help shape this new academic offering.
TIME NZ’s chairperson Andrew Gay, Travel USA; NZ committee member Gaye Wood, Regency Tourism; and mentors Sarah Porter, Wild Earth/Niue Tourism and Paul Dymond, Wendy Wu Tours
Crown Institute of Studies’ Amy Tregidga and Preeti Mann share details of the new Hospitality Diploma
Guest Speaker Annie Dundas, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited; with Debbie Summers, IDNZ
Tweenie Haywood-Brown, NZME; Joanne Saunderson, Mandy McQuilki, both NZ Travel Brokers
Michael Shah, Skål Auckland presents Andrew Gay of TIME NZ with a thank you gift
China Southern Airlines gets trade together
The long-standing connection between Guangzhou, China and Auckland was reinforced during a China Southern function at Queens Rooftop & Wineshop, in Auckland early this week.
Eason He, assistant sales manager at CZ emphasised that the airline first started flying to Auckland in April 2011 is and is still going strong.
The event was also an opportunity to remind agents about the free half-day tour for New Zealand passport holders transiting in Guangzhou.
He says news from China Southern includes the start of a three days a week service between CAN and Madrid on 3 December, with the possibility of the route going daily later in the year.
Paul Dymond, Wendy Wu Tours; Alan Xiao, China Southern Airlines; Dale Rowley, House of Travel Takapuna
Sharon Huang, Travel Managers; Summer Xia, NZ China Council; Katie Zhang, Travel Managers
Kurt Johnson, Flight Centre Botany; Eason He, China Southern Airlines; Jono Norton, Flight Centre
Claire Joines, House of Travel Devonport; Therese Brooking, Walk This Way; David Sim, House of Travel
Allen Bell, Rob Beecher, Global Travel Network; Ian Peddie, Aspire Travel Group; Jono Norton, Flight Centre; Man Nghi Luong, Aspire Travel Group
Stu Mckay, Fuzion Travel; Brendan Drury, Orbit World Travel; Andrew Parke, Fuzion Travel; Chris Hammonds, Mondo Travel
DNSW hosts ‘footy function’ in AKL
The pre-match conversation was lively, the rain held off (mostly) and the All Blacks won a tight and exciting game at Eden Park, Auckland to make a memorable evening for members of the industry on Saturday.
Destination New South Wales put on food and drinks at the Full Time Bar in Kingsland before hosting a group of agents, wholesalers and airline partners to some prime seats at the All Blacks v Wallabies clash.
Sam Cameron, Destination New South Wales; Emily Rose, Qantas; Hayley Daffurn, Air New Zealand; Lizzie Brett, Helloworld
Jo McGrath, Julia Bozich, both House of Travel; Melissa Brooks, Destination New South Wales
Bianca Henry, World Travellers; Kim Beere, First Travel Group; Daniel Wright, Tourism Australia; Kylie Crouch, First Travel Group
Emily Rose, Qantas; Stephanie Armstrong, Air New Zealand; Francesca Curtin, Qantas
More...
A taste of Aotearoa with QR
Members of the travel trade and media were given a cooking demonstration and new menu sampling lunch at Mr Morris restaurant in Auckland this week to highlight Qatar Airways’ collaboration with renowned New Zealand chef Michael Meredith.
Meredith says his aim with the menu was to honour incredible ingredients on offer in Aotearoa. These are carefully sourced from local suppliers, in accordance with sustainable practices and seasonality to highlight the best of New Zealand ingredients.
Chris Paykel, QR’s country manager New Zealand also took the opportunity to update agents on the airline’s coming summer schedule and advise them to keep an eye on special Europe fares being released early next month.
Ali Sharp, Travel Managers; Jason Buckley, Envoyage; Chris Paykel, Qatar Airways
Kristin Edgeworth, 360edge; Annette Dunning, Annette Dunning Travel; Kerry Graham, The Private Travel Company
Carol Morgan, Voyage Affaires; with Stu McKay and Andrew Parke, both Fuzion Travel
Chef Michael Meredith with Georgia Guerinet and Thusan Mudiyanselage, both Qatar Airways
Masterclass in learning and celebration
Two days of learning, anchored by Helloworld Travel’s Preferred Partner Workshops and Masterclasses were held in Rotorua recently.
Day one was dedicated to cruise while day two featured sessions on air, land and touring. The programme included engaging plenary masterclasses and interactive booth sessions along with plenty of fun, giveaways, quizzes and prizes.
The Helloworld Branded Store Gala Awards were held on the Saturday night.
The weekend’s social calendar also included networking and drinks at Skyline Rotorua on the Friday evening.
Chris Hunter, GM Helloworld NZ, says the energy, engagement, and feedback from agents and partners was overwhelmingly positive. ‘The new format... with more plenary sessions and more comprehensive masterclasses, really delivered. The awards night was a true celebration of the talent and dedication across our branded network.’
Agents heading to heading to Adelaide (thanks to Air New Zealand and Allianz) on the top store trp are Chris Hunter, HLO; Kevin Blyth, Allianz; Bruce Blacklock, HLO St Heliers; Bev Ellice, HLO Strandon; Bernice Sherry, HLO Cambridge; Laura Dawes, HLO Masterton; Debbie Natoli, HLO Miramar; Kylie Henare, HLO Whanganui; Deborah Kay, HLO Rotorua; Ellen Lee, HLO Waipukurau; Jo Robinson, HLO Thames; Carolyn Hedley, HLO Westgate; Leigh Feast, HLO Masterton; Jo Inglis, Air New Zealand; and Shaun Muller HLO
Off to Shanghai (thanks to Air New Zealand and Wendy Wu Tours) for the top sellers trip are Kevin Blyth, Allianz; Chris Hunter, HLO; Jen Steen, HLO Thames; Kim Dunwell, HLO Palmerston North; Jo Inglis, Air New Zealand, Taryn Burwell and Marise Barrett, HLO Strandon; Caraline Hawken, HLO Cambridge; Natalie Archer, HLO St Heliers; Bridget Middlemiss, HLO Cambridge; Tracey Bluck, HLO Mt Maunganui; Tony Page, HLO Orewa; Olivia Turner and Rachel Kitson, HLO Rotorua; Saskia Bloot, HLO Whanganui; and Paul Dymond Wendy Wu Tours
Top rookie Saskia Bloot, HLO Whanganui with HLO's head of branded and commercial, Brooke Jamieson
Top travel professional Olivia Turner, HLO Rotorua; with head of branded and commercial Brook Jamieson and national business manager Shaun Muller
Top store award went to HLO Strandon… with GM NZ Chris Hunter are Julie Jamieson, Taryn Burwell, and Bev Ellice and Marise Barrett
Outstanding contribution to the brand – Bernice Sherry, HLO Cambridge; with GM NZ, Chris Hunter and head of branded and commercial, Brooke Jamieson
Top stores are heading to ADL (thanks to Air New Zealand and Allianz)
Top sellers are heading to Shanghai (thanks to Air New Zealand and Wendy Wu Tours
Main course for Back-Roads
Back-Roads Touring introduced newly appointed business development manager, Gabby Oliver – stepping into her role 3 June – when it hosted key partners this week at Main Course cooking school.
Mary Buckley, Shore Travel; Jason Buckley and Jodie Burnard, Envoyage
Tanya Aitken, House of Travel Papamoa; Maree Thompson, House of Travel Mount Maunganui
Back-Road’s Bobby Hale; Jodie Burnard, Envoyage; Heidi Walker, Flight Centre; Rafa Sandoval, Flight Centre; Jason Buckley Envoyage; Mary Buckley, Shore Travel
Back-Road’s Ed Pettitt (from the UK), and Bridget Davies Pukekohe Travel
Fleur Williams and Paula Watson, House of Travel HQ
Maree Thompson, House of Travel Mount Manganui; and Kate Smyth, House of Travel Morrinsville
Back-Roads team; Ed Pettitt (UK); Anna Fawcett, Gabby Oliver, newly appointed BDM for NZ; Bobby Hale
Ports of AKL update at Skal lunch
With the current New Zealand cruise season coming to its end, it was good timing for Ports of Auckland speak at the Skål Auckland’s event Hotel Grand Chancellor this month.
Suhail Sequeira, head of commercial at Ports of Auckland shared details of the port’s future growth and infrastructure strategies and improved customer experiences.
Highlights included development of an integrated cruise terminal at Bledisloe Wharf for ship turnarounds of up to 5,000 passengers, upgrades to Shed 10 terminal facilities at Queens Wharf, channel deepening and potential in-port hull cleaning.
Continuing Skål Auckland’s focus on featuring Auckland infrastructure updates for the trade, a June event will feature an update on the City Rail Link (CRL).
The lunch event will be at The Top of the Town at Pullman Auckland on Thursday 5 June between 12-2pm. It is open to all travel and tourism personnel, Register HERE.
Skal Auckland vice president, Prasheel Churi with guest speaker Suhail Sequeira; Ports of Auckland
Benedikt Bouillon, Habit Coaching; Paul Columbus, Pullman Auckland Airport
Tania Wakefield, Due Drop Events Centre; Lisa Linn and Rebecca Day, Stuba
Prasheel Churi, Sebel Auckland Manukau; Rebecca Liddle, Novotel Auckland Airport; Sam Sherer, Pullman Auckland
