It’s an experienced finalist line-up, with the exception of relative new player TravelManagers, that are competing for the title of “Best Retail Agency - multi-location” at the National Travel Industry Awards. The other four finalists boast over 105 years experience between them compared to TravelManagers six years that can be reduced to four if you take into consideration its ownership under House of Travel.

Chairman of House of Travel Australia and long-time travel industry stalwart, Barry Mayo says it’s a fantastic result for TravelManagers who are vying for the title for the third consecutive year, but also for the personal travel manager/mobile consultant segment.

“We are hugely respectful of the other finalists, there are some iconic Australian travel industry companies in the line-up which makes TravelManagers’ result all the more significant. The personal travel manager segment is rapidly expanding and TravelManagers has certainly played a significant part in raising the segments profile.”

Mr Mayo did not agree with Travel Partners’ Peter Watson’s recent comments that spiralling operating costs could soon make bricks and mortar businesses unsustainable.

“Whilst the personal travel manager model is hugely attractive as a result of its low-cost base and our enquiry level is at an all-time-high, I’ve been in this industry long enough to know that there will always be a market for outstanding operators. People are time poor and they want top quality service from someone who is genuinely interested in them as a person and meeting their needs.”

Mr Mayo believes TravelManagers lead the personal travel manager sector citing their results in recent awards.

“Maria Piliouras, our representative from Townsend Queensland, collected the prestigious “Travel Agent of the Year” Award at the recent Australian Travel Awards and we are a finalist in two categories at the NTIA.”

In addition to the “Best Retail Agency - multi-location”, their representative from Gymea Bay in New South Wales, Cathy Moir, is up for “Best Travel Consultant – Retail”.

“Cathy delivers such a professional service with an incredibly strong focus on attentive, personalized service. Her extensive knowledge and experience ensures her clients receive a superior travel experience every time.”

Mr Mayo says their personal travel managers’ individual skills and experience are backed with rigorous training opportunities, exclusive famil experiences tied to reaching minimum education standards and a comprehensive national marketing plan supported locally by business partnership managers on the ground in each state.

“We recognise a national focus is important but local knowledge and support from a mentoring, marketing and sales perspective is a vital combination.”