TravelManagers is getting ready for its annual conference in September, buoyed by the success of its first quarter round of state meetings across the country.
Strong personal travel manager attendance saw record numbers achieved in both Adelaide and Sydney, with a 35% and 10% increased attendance respectively. Hosted by the local state-based business partnership managers, the five regional meetings in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth had a strong business focus, allowing the personal travel managers to network and begin consolidating their 2017 goals.
Michael Gazal, TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager says they have come a long way since the first state meeting in 2009 with just two national partnership office reps and 90 attendees.
“Eight years on and we are thrilled that on average at least triple the number of personal travel managers now attend these meetings, and we provide a much broader involvement from members of our national partnership office support team.
“The level of engagement of our personal travel managers with the company is so high that five personal travel managers travelled interstate to ensure they didn’t miss a meeting when they were unable to attend the scheduled one in their own region. This shows true commitment and dedication,” he adds.
Queensland – Maree Evans with Michael Gazal
Gazal says he is proud that the TravelManagers’ state meetings are a winning formula with personal travel managers.
“The feedback over the years from our personal travel managers has always been that our inclusive strategy, strong business focused agenda, large contingent from our national partnership office and hosting by our locally based business partnership managers really works. Despite a category four cyclone heading towards Queensland the day of the meeting and personal travel managers still attending in force, happy and eager to hear what is new for TravelManagers, we know we are on a winning formula with these meetings.
The fact that over thirty-eight percent of personal travel managers have been with the company for more than five years does not surprise Gazal.
“TravelManagers is a company that really cares about its people and recognizing talent and providing opportunities for growth is of absolute importance to us. We treat each personal travel manager as an individual and valued business partner. The ability to have the freedom and flexibility to work how and when you choose we know resonates with our personal travel managers.”
Victoria – Helen Rolton with Michael Gazal
A select group of partner suppliers are invited to attend each state meeting.
“The state meetings always provide a great opportunity for our partner suppliers to network directly with our personal travel managers. We were delighted to have Air New Zealand, Silversea and Total Holiday Options promote their products and unique selling points fostering greater supplier relationships,” says Gazal.
A post meeting networking session hosted by Singapore Airlines proved an outstanding success. Singapore Airlines commenced the networking session with a brief presentation from the local representative in each state, followed by a chance for personal travel managers and national partnership office team members to mix and mingle.
Personal Travel Managers in Adelaide
A series of virtual state meetings were held via webinar for the personal travel managers who could not attend in person.
“We follow up with state webinars so that everyone has the opportunity to be part of the partnership process and across new developments,” says Gazal.
The post State meetings success augurs well for TravelManagers’ annual conference appeared first on Travel Monitor.