Gala Awards Dinner Wraps Up ‘Best-Ever’ TravelManagers Conference
TravelManagers’ annual National Conference concluded in Cairns on Saturday evening with a gala awards dinner that ensured a festive conclusion to the three-day event which, according to Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal, has been its biggest and most successful ever.
“Despite their demanding workloads, almost half of our total network of personal travel managers (PTMs) has invested in their future businesses by coming to Cairns this year, along with more than 140 supplier and media partners.”
Louise McCarthy was among those with something to celebrate on Saturday night: she was named Personal Travel Manager of the Year for 2023/24. The coveted PTM Choice Award, which is awarded by PTM votes, went to Rachael Portelli from Aberfeldie, VIC, in recognition of her professionalism and dedication to upholding TravelManagers’ brand and values.
PTM of the Year: Louise McCarthy, based in Castle Hill NSW, was named TravelManagers’ Personal Travel Manager of the Year for 2023/24.
PTM Choice Award: The people have spoken, and they have named Rachael Portelli from Aberfeldie, VIC, as this year’s winner of the PTM Choice Award.
Gazal says the new award categories introduced this year were a reflection of the brand’s tradition of celebrating both its culture and its commercial success.
“The inaugural recipient of the Above and Beyond Award, PTM Nicole Cocks, is the epitome of a TravelManagers PTM who goes above and beyond to assist colleagues and clients dealing with challenging circumstances,” he explains. “She received the award for her exceptional service and selflessness in a situation that, without her quiet intervention, could have destroyed a client’s milestone family holiday.”
Above and Beyond Award: In her customary, understated manner, PTM Nicole Cocks quietly stepped in to ensure her clients remained blissfully unaware of a systems issue that threatened to derail their milestone family holiday. Her selfless actions saved the day, earning her TravelManagers’ Above and Beyond Award for 2024.
PTM Maria Miller, who is based in Parkes, NSW, was this year’s recipient of the Barry Mayo Spirit Award which, as Gazal explains, is presented each year to someone whose everyday attitude has helped in developing, maintaining and enhancing TravelManagers’ unique culture.
“Maria joined TravelManagers in 2008, and her strong connections across the network are a direct result of her willingness to lend a hand or an ear to any fellow PTMs in need of support and assistance.”
Barry Mayo Spirit Award: Designed to recognise someone who lives, breathes and reflects the heart and soul of TravelManagers, PTM Maria Miller epitomises the values celebrated through the Barry Mayo Spirit Award.
During the lead-up to the awards ceremony, conference participants attended trade shows and presentations from more than 80 partner suppliers. The conference theme of “Working Smarter” was integrated into a series of plenary sessions and workshops that covered a variety of topics, including recent technology innovations that PTMs can integrate into their business operations to enhance productivity and inform their decision-making.
TravelManagers Engagement Award: The newly introduced TravelManagers Engagement Award went to PTM Julianne Gazal-Rizk in recognition of her engagement, dedication, consistency and overall commitment to the TravelManagers network.
Denise Dean Advocate Award: As an avid advocate for the TravelManagers brand, PTM Anna Curran was this year’s recipient of the Denise Dean Advocate Award.
The opening address was delivered by internationally accredited practitioner in mindfulness and meditation, Chelsea Pottenger. In a change of format from the usual closing address, the conference wrapped with a Q&A session with Olympic champion and national treasure, Cathy Freeman (OAM).
The conference concluded on Saturday afternoon with an important announcement: “The location of the following year’s National Conference is traditionally a closely-kept secret until the conclusion of the current event,” Gazal says. “The news that we are heading to Bali in September 2025 created the perfect buzz on which to finish.”
