Agent Wrap: AFTA members join National Mobilisation Program, TravelManagers agent celebrates 15 years + MORE

Agent Wrap: AFTA members join National Mobilisation Program, TravelManagers agent celebrates 15 years + MORE
By Alexandra Coulton


To celebrate the fact that it’s Friday, we’ve made you an extra special Agent Wrap! And it’s not JUST special because we forgot to post one for the past few weeks.

AFTA members power up as part of National Mobilisation Program

AFTA members are rising to the call of the National Mobilisation Program to secure sector-specific support of $125 million from the Federal Government.

Among the many meetings already held was Wednesday’s powerhouse meeting of travel agents, tour operators, AFTA, state members and a local Mayor with the Federal Member for Goldstein, Tim Wilson.

Co-ordinated by Steven Green, Olive Tree Travel and Keiran Cromie, Brighton Travelworld, the meeting revolved around the reality of life on the travel frontline and the need to amplify the call for tailored and immediate action.

Joining Wilson on the call were State Member for Caulfield David Southwick, State Member for Brighton James Newbury, State Member for Sandringham Brad Roswell and Bayside Council Mayor Clarke Martin.

Meanwhile, on Monday the four-week Resilient Mind Program led by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents officially commenced and 1,380 individuals across nearly 300 businesses, have taken up the challenge.

Paul Taylor, Director of the Mind Body Brain Performance Institute, kicked-off the challenge with a webinar which outlined the program’s scientific approach to enhancing resilience to stress and creating healthy coping mechanisms to deal with challenges.

The program runs from Monday 7 September to Sunday 4 October.

Long lunch for longest-serving TravelManagers PTM

TravelManagers’ Lisa Metzl (left), Angharad O’Malley (centre) and Grant Campbell.

After more than a decade spent commuting 90 minutes each way to her job in a Sydney-based corporate travel agency, Lisa Metzl knew she was ready for a change. She initially tried working as a freelancer for a retail travel agency, but her sense of separation from the in-house consultants had her casting around for a better option.

Little did she realise when she came across a profile about a new, home-based travel agency, that she would one day be celebrating 15 happy and fulfilling years as a personal travel manager (PTM) with that company.

Travellers Choice members praise group’s ongoing support

As COVID-19 continues to rattle the travel industry’s foundations, Travellers Choice members say they have never felt more supported.

In a survey of the national retail group’s members, 97 per cent of respondents said they were happy with the support they were receiving throughout the coronavirus crises. And almost half of all respondents rated the group’s efforts as “outstanding”.

During the current crisis Travellers Choice has maintained staffing levels at pre-COVID levels in its Perth-based corporate office and retained its full network of state-based business development managers.

Rugby League World Cup 2021 International fan travel experiences on sale

Fans from Australia and around the globe can now secure their seat at Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021), after international fan travel experiences went on sale today.

With 61 matches across 21 venues, played between 23 October 2021 and 27 November 2021, it’s expected that up to 10 per cent of spectators will come from oversees.

RLWC2021 has appointed Glory Days, which will work with approved agents around the world, including Australia, to provide the huge international fan base with a chance to be part of the Rugby League celebration in England next year.

Australian travel agencies interested in being part of the international programme should contact Dave Hardy at Glory Days dave.hardy@glorydays.uk.com / www.glorydays.uk.com

Featured image caption: (L-R) TravelManagers’ Michelle Michael-Pecora, Joe Araullo, Judy Gillings, Rick Pattaro, Ally Casey, Michael Gazal, Angharad O’Malley, and Grant Campbell

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