Sydney Ready to Welcome Thirteenth TravelManagers Annual Conference

Sydney Ready to Welcome Thirteenth TravelManagers Annual Conference

Featured photo: Amanda Stevens emcee – 2018 Keynote Speaker of the Year.

TravelManagers’ annual national conference is set to take place in Sydney this week, bringing together personal travel managers (PTMs), National Partnership Office (NPO) team and partner suppliers in what promises to be a vibrant celebration after a three-year, pandemic hiatus.

The theme of this year’s conference is “TOGETHER”: a theme which celebrates the opportunity for PTMs from around Australia to come together for the first time since the 2019 conference in Perth.

“The registration numbers reflect the huge enthusiasm within the TravelManagers family to return for what promises to be one of our best-ever conferences,” predicts TravelManagers’ Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal. “We are also looking forward to welcoming back many of our preferred partner suppliers, including our five Platinum sponsors: The Travel Corporation, Qantas, Amadeus, Worlds Leading Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International.”

Also making a return is Amanda Stevens, a renowned thought leader on the customer experience who, according to Gazal, captivated the audience during her opening keynote address in 2019.

“Amanda is a brilliant speaker with extensive experience in consumer psychology and marketing,” Gazal explains. “In addition to once again providing the opening address, we are thrilled that she has also agreed to take on a new role as our first-ever MC. We know that she will ensure the conference is right mix of business and fun for a post-COVID celebration.”

In addition to Stevens, Gazal says conference attendees will hear from four PTM speakers during the two-day event, along with Gavin Smith, Vice President & Managing Director of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd for Australia and New Zealand, who is scheduled to appear as a special guest speaker. In addition, attendees will hear from a duo of NPO speakers: Sandra Leslie and Sandra Reucker, who jointly manage TravelManagers’ day-to-day supplier relationships.

During the conference, Gazal says attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops and a supplier trade show, as well as taking part in an open-forum discussion. There will also be a review of 2020 and 2021, including the ongoing development of the newly launched ‘TravelManagers Customer Fund’ (TCF).

The closing address will be delivered by 2021 Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Jana Pittman, whose roller-coaster story of triumph and defeat, failure and success is sure to provide an uplifting and inspiring conclusion to the conference.

In keeping with TravelManagers’ tradition of entertaining and inspiring conferences, Gazal says attendees are invited to attend a welcome cocktail function on the night of Wednesday 07 September.

“We always like to end the conference on a high note, and this year will be no different,” he adds. “On Friday evening we have our customary gala dinner – this year with a Studio 54 theme.”

Alma Araullo is among the 170-plus PTMs registered to attend: having attended all twelve previous conferences, she says she wouldn’t dream of missing this year’s long-anticipated event: “it’s exciting to find out what’s next in travel, and the training and networking keep me at my best for my clients.”

Maria Miller, who is representative for Parkes, NSW, is also attending her thirteenth TravelManagers conference.

“It has been so long since we have all been able to get together. I always walk away from the conference feeling rejuvenated, motivated and ready to take on whatever may come my way. It’s a wonderful way to catch up with the TravelManagers family, share experiences and have a lot of fun at the same time.”