The winner of the prestigious Avis Travel Agent Scholarship of Excellence for 2011 has gone to a mobile consultant, strong evidence that the face of the travel industry is changing from the dominance of the retail travel agent/consultant.

All five finalists were interviewed in Sydney yesterday in front of members of the Avis Travel Agents Advisory Board, with Claudia Silk from Travel Counsellors being announced as the 2011 winner at an awards dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney last night.

Daniela Tatonetti with TravelManagers in Western Australia was one of the finalists making mobile consulting and personal travel managers 40 percent of the finalists.

“I’ve got over 15 years’ experience in both corporate and leisure travel and I can honestly say I’ve never looked back since becoming a personal travel manager, it’s been life changing. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

Ms Tatonetti says the competition was very tough from the other four finalists.