TMS Asia-Pacific has outlined plans for expansion in 2012 as it reported a strong last quarter and a “fantastic” January.
General manager Australia Sally Matheson revealed that the specialist travel recruitment firm saw an increase of 30% in job orders last month compared with the same month last year, in a period which was traditionally a "little flat”.
“It’s literally booming,” she said, adding that new recruitment firms were also popping up, which she saw as a good sign.
She attributed much of the growth to Australian-based firms who had “not been affected by overseas markets”.
Meanwhile, founder Gary Marshall said that while there were plenty of jobs available, retail and corporate travel agents had become “almost impossible to find,” with no growth in the number of candidates, who had become increasingly selective as a result.
The company announced yesterday that Mark Rizzuto, formerly of Sabre and Travelport, would join as a major shareholder and principal, based in Sydney.
Rizzuto confirmed that the firm was not experiencing the “doom and gloom” anticipated by many and, as a result, would look at cautiously expanding in 2012.
Digital would be a major focus over the coming year, he added, with website updates and social media strategies to be phased in over the coming months as the firm seeks innovative ways to engage with candidates.
The firm is also looking at reopening its Melbourne office, which closed in the midst of 2008’s global financial crisis.
Rizzuto also highlighted the changing nature of travel, demonstrated by increasing demand for roles such as database managers and online community leaders.
