TravelManagers has expanded its state-based Business Partnership Manager (BPM) team with two new appointments, strengthening its commitment to personalised support for more than 500 personal travel managers (PTMs) across Australia.
National Business Partnership Manager Julia McLean said the two new BPMs, Olivia Glover and Lucy Hunter, will oversee PTMs in Victoria and South Australia respectively. Their roles include business development, mentoring and supplier relationship management.
Who are the new BPMs?
Glover, based in Victoria, brings experience from her previous role as Business Development Manager at Cathay Pacific, along with time at Sabre and several retail travel brands. She has also worked as a home-based travel consultant, giving her insight into the PTM model.
Hunter, based in South Australia, started as a retail travel consultant before moving into business development, marketing and consulting. She succeeds long-standing BPM Maggie Bootsman, who retired after more than 40 years in the industry.
What will their roles involve?
According to McLean, the BPM team provides day-to-day support to PTMs through one-on-one meetings, regional training sessions and local cluster events. In addition to helping PTMs grow their businesses, BPMs also benefit from TravelManagers’ professional development opportunities, including presentation skills workshops and a Peer Mentoring program launched earlier this year.
Hunter said she is looking forward to meeting PTMs and supporting their growth.
“I love building partnerships and I’m looking forward to learning about each PTM’s business challenges and opportunities. I think TravelManagers offers a fabulous model that allows travel advisors to take control of their work-life balance and be rewarded for their hard work,” she said.
Glover added that her past experience as a consultant helps her understand PTM needs.
“I know first-hand what it’s like to run your own travel business, and I’m excited to support others doing the same,” she said.
Why this matters for PTMs
The BPM structure is designed to give PTMs localised, personalised support, ensuring they have access to resources and guidance tailored to their markets. With TravelManagers’ network spanning all states and territories, the team of BPMs plays a key role in maintaining strong supplier ties, delivering training, and helping agents adapt to shifts in consumer demand.
McLean noted that succession planning and the recruitment of experienced professionals such as Glover and Hunter reflect TravelManagers’ long-term focus on sustaining support for its PTM community.
The BPM team is one of several layers of support offered to PTMs, alongside the national partnership office in Sydney, which provides centralised resources in marketing, technology, and compliance.
Looking ahead
With Glover and Hunter now in place, TravelManagers is aiming to reinforce its PTM network in Victoria and South Australia. The appointments also signal continuity following Bootsman’s retirement, ensuring that PTMs in the region continue to benefit from strong local representation.
KARRYON UNPACKS: TravelManagers’ expansion of its BPM team reinforces the importance of personalised support for home-based consultants. For agents, this means stronger supplier connections, practical training opportunities and ongoing development to keep pace with changing industry demands.
