This follows Wednesday’s official launch, when Complete’s website went live with a listing of founding members – ATPI New Zealand, Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel, The Private Travel Company (all Auckland Central); Travel Connections (Auckland-East); Stars Travel International Auckland (Auckland - North); Holland Clark & Beatson Travel (Canterbury); and Stars Travel New Plymouth (Taranaki).
Along with MacLeod, the corporate team includes Paul Smith, general manager; and Alison Salmon, administration manager.
‘The name Complete capsulates the ethos that we have various aspects of the industry and put them together as a total package. We’re negotiating most of our own air and we’ll be progressively announcing strategic alliances.’
The first of these, made public today, is a partnership with Luxury Travel Collection (LTC).
LTC has dedicated, on-the-ground leadership in New Zealand through head of luxury brands NZ Kelly de Graaf, providing local support for members.
LTC general manager, Nikki Glading says partnering with the Complete team brings together agencies that are not only exceptional businesses but are helping shape the future of luxury travel in New Zealand.
MacLeod says Complete’s members wanted a luxury community that understood independent businesses and was committed to helping members and partners grow together. ‘LTC was the natural fit.’
MacLeod says Complete will also be developing its own technology as part of its offering. ‘We’ll be announcing that later this year and we’re excited about what we will be bringing to the market in that regard.’
The company is focused on the premium leisure and corporate market (a number of the founding agencies are members of the Virtuoso collective) and feels confident about the future of the sector.
‘The front end of the plane remains strong and the issue really has been availability in recent months because of geopolitical issues, but that also seems to be sorting out now. Travellers’ resistance is staying strong and, if anything it seems to bounce back quickly after these setbacks.’
