TravelManagers welcomes back its WA business partnership manager

By James Harrison

TravelManagers has reappointed Alison Banks as business partnership manager(BPM), joining its extensive National Partnership Office (NPO) team to support Western Australia-based personal travel managers (PTMs).

Banks returns to her role as BPM after working with TravelManagers between 2010 and 2021. She will focus solely on supporting PTMs in Western Australia and said she is excited to be returning to the travel industry in a role which she loves.

“I’ve spent the last seventeen months working in a different sector, acquiring a variety of diverse new skills and knowledge,” Banks said.

“It’s amazing how concepts can apply in different ways across different industries, and it will be fun to share these ideas, in conjunction with all of my previous travel industry experience, with my PTMs.”

Having worked in the travel industry for more than 27 years in a wide range of roles, covering everything from managing agencies and training agents to marketing products and destinations and representing an assortment of travel brands.

Banks says she expects to find numerous changes since her break from the industry, but believes the NPO team will continue to excel in providing PTMs with the necessary support to adjust accordingly.

“We will continue to focus on the personal approach for which TravelManagers is renowned, ensuring that PTMs continue to enjoy strong relationships with key suppliers and making clever use of technology to support our home-based model of operation,” Banks said.

TravelManagers’ executive general manager, Michael Gazal, said the company is delighted to welcome Ali back.

“Ali is highly regarded amongst PTMs and suppliers alike, and we feel very fortunate to have her back to an industry she cherishes,” Gazal said.

“2023 promises to be a big year, and Ali’s return will ensure that our NPO team is well-resourced to support our expanding network in WA.”

Banks also believes the pandemic has demonstrated to many travel agents that a ‘work from home’ model is not only possible but preferable, and that demand for the TravelManagers model, with its opportunity for superior financial returns and greater work-life balance, is set to increase accordingly.

“I expect to be kept very busy guiding new PTMs through the start-up process, providing mentoring and business coaching to support them in building the kind of businesses they envision for themselves while continuing to support our existing network through the ever-increasing demand for international travel,” Banks said.

“I’m greatly looking forward to taking on these challenges.”

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