TravelManagers' CEO Joe Araullo together with seven of the 'Top 10 Personal Travel Managers' (PTMs Liza Beylerian, John Lengacher, Di Yates, Aileen Collins, Debbie Bean, Sam Cox & Ric Pattaro)

Louise Wagstaff, 'Personal Travel Manager Recruit of the Year Award' with who else but TravelManagers' CEO Joe Araullo

Michelle Michael-Pecora (aka 'Purple') 'Most Improved Personal Travel Manager of the Year' with "Oh dear, this could get a bit like where's Wally ah?" -  TravelManagers' CEO Joe Araullo

Lisa Metzl, 'Recognition Award' together with "Hmm, Let me try a more serious look this time" - TravelManagers' CEO Joe Araullo

Stephanie Jones, 'Support Team Member Award' with TravelManagers' with "I'm not sure I can hold this smile much longer" - TravelManagers' CEO Joe Araullo

John Lengacher, 'Personal Travel Manager of the Year, with "It really is John's night but let's face it I am hogging all the limelight, so why stop now" - TravelManagers' CEO Joe Araullo

TravelManagers' Executive General Manager, Mandy Scotney and "Yep I'm still here, although I notice they are pushing me to the back"  - CEO Joe Araullo together with the individual category award winners for 2009.

Reward and recognition is a high priority for TravelManagers says executive general manager Mandy Scotney.

"Regardless of age or stage in someone's career, everyone likes to be recognised for outstanding work. While we do acknowledge outstanding performance throughout the year our conference is a perfect time to do this as a group with the majority of our team attending."

TravelManagers'2009 national conference was held at the Marriott Resort in Surfers Paradise on 14 November. During the weekend there were awards presented in six categories based on set criteria.

"We recognise our top 10 personal travel managers based on commissions earned in 2009."

The winners were:
Aileen Collins - Carrara, Queensland
Allan Roser - Waverley, New South Wales
Brad Thomas - Ultimo, New South Wales
Debbie Bean - Tarneit, Victoria
Di Yates - Montrose, Victoria
John Lengacher - Windsor, Victoria
Liza Beylerian - Lysterfield South, Victoria
Pamela Edwards - East Gosford, New South Wales
Ric Pattaro - Haberfield, New South Wales
Samantha Cox - Modella, Victoria

TravelManagers also reward a recent recruit to the business through their 'New Personal Travel Manager of the Year Award'.

"This award is based on the highest commission achieved in their initial year as a personal travel manager. They must have been trading a minimum of six months and this year the award went to Louise Wagstaff from Pine Mountain in Queensland."

TravelManagers most improved personal travel manager of the year, based on growth in commission for 2009 compared to 2008 was Michelle Micheal-Pecora from Castle Hill, New South Wales.

"One of our favourite awards is the TravelManagers Recognition Award which is voted by head office. The Recognition Award is for the personal travel manager who best reflects TravelManagers family spirit, displaying commitment to attending meetings and training, demonstrating unselfish willingness to help other personal travel managers, showing accuracy in the use of Tramada and TravelManagers remote web-based robotic ticketing system and someone who is proactive across all areas of the business."

This year Lisa Metzl from North Avoca in New South Wales was the recipient.

"Lisa was the first personal travel manager we recruited back in 2005 and over this time she has proven to be an amazingly giving member of our team."

The TravelManagers Support Staff of the Year Award went to Stephanie Jones from the accounts department at TravelManagers' national partnership office.

"The support staff award is voted by our personal travel manager network. This award is all about someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in offering and responding to requests for assistance by personal travel managers."

The top award, The Personal Travel Manager of the Year Award, was awarded to John Lengacher from Windsor in Victoria for 2009.

TravelManagers use a range of attributes to make their decision for this award including total sales, overall margin, value of insurance sales and the number of GDS segments created etc.

"John is a great example of how fantastic the personal travel manager concept is. Here he is our top personal travel manager for 2009 and he spends a significant amount of his time travelling, working and living overseas. You couldn't ask for better work-life balance than that now could you?"

For more information visit: http://join.travelmanagers.com.au