TravelManagers Wraps the Year with Christmas Cheer
Featured photo: Michael Gazal (4th from left) presented seven NPO staff with awards recognising five years with TravelManagers. (L-R) David McCarthy, Julia McLean, Melissa Duffy, Michael Gazal, Rheina Chan, Melissa Randazzo, Tania Myles & Leeanne Freeman.
TravelManagers has completed a series of state meetings in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Personal travel managers (PTMs), National Partnership Office (NPO) team and partner suppliers came together to enjoy events that were in equal parts informative and festive.
For some PTMs, it was their first experience of a state meeting and a chance to find out why so many of their colleagues consider it to be a highlight of the year. For 25 PTMs and NPO team members, it was time to formally recognise the accomplishment of five years with TravelManagers. For everyone who attended, it was an opportunity get excited about what to expect in 2024 and celebrate the achievements of 2023.
The Vibe Hotel Sydney was chosen as the venue for the final state meeting of 2023 for NSW and ACT based PTMs. They heard updates from various National Partnership Office (NPO) departments before enjoying a Christmas function that was also attended by partner suppliers.
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- PTM Mary Anderson, who is based in Kiama Heights, NSW, says she loved catching up with everyone at the end of a very busy year (L-R): Kylie Ford, Annette McHugh, Michelle Nicholas, Mary Anderson & Julie Napier
PTMs based in Queensland and northern NSW gathered at Brisbane’s Victoria Park Golf Club, where the formal part of the day focused on preparing for 2024 and beyond. They were then joined by suppliers for a celebratory Christmas lunch.
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- Party hats and empty plates – the sure sign of a happy gathering (L-R): TravelManagers’ Jackie Sommers, Carolyn Pitt, Andrea Friend, Kate Rosenthal (Business Development Manager, On the Go Tours), Renee Cassar (Business Development Manager, On the Go Tours), Maria Rainone, Sarah Knoll, Sharon Wright and Carolyn Ahearne
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- State meetings offer an unmissable opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues: (L-R) PTMs Angela Spicer, Trish Clowes and Rachael Portelli.
In Melbourne, PTMs from around Victoria were joined by colleagues from as far afield as Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland for their state meeting. Throughout the morning, they heard updates from NPO’s cruise, airfares, and marketing teams, as well as a presentation from Cover-More. The event concluded with a festive lunch.
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- (L-R) Ali Banks (BPM WA/NT); Tanya Nielsen (PTM); Merrilyn Priest (PTM) and Michael Gazal (TravelManagers’ Executive GM).
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- PTMs and suppliers enjoyed the camaraderie and idea-sharing that is a feature of TravelManagers’ six-monthly state meetings.
Perth’s Subiaco played host to WA-based PTMs, who gathered at the city’s Vibe Hotel for their state meeting, following by Christmas lunch at The Storehouse Restaurant.
The Adelaide Pavilion was the location for both the state meeting and the subsequent Christmas lunch attended by SA-based PTMs.
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- PTMs and NPO were joined by Oceania Cruises’ Business Development Manager, Martine Nunes and Cover-More’s Head of Industry Sales, Nicky Moorcraft.
PTM Maria Artelaris, who is based in Mosman Park, WA, summed up the overall sentiment surrounding all five meetings when she said, “today’s state meeting was well worth attending, with really exciting updates on projects that will be delivered in the year ahead. The Christmas lunch was lots of fun with delicious food – I’m so glad I came along!”
