Link Travel Group (LTG) has concluded its inaugural network conference, Link Live, held from November 20 to 23 at the W Brisbane. The highly anticipated, sold-out event brought together 180 delegates for three days of insights, connection and celebration. Karryon’s Matt Leedham reports.
Before the pandemic, the idea that Goldman Travel Group and Spencer Travel Group would join forces with Flight Centre Travel Group wasn’t just unlikely, it bordered on the absurd. However, timing always has a way of rewriting history, and as the sector emerged from COVID-19 in 2021, a partnership that no one could have predicted suddenly became one of the defining new forces in Australian travel.
Fast-forward three years, and what began as a left-field, crisis-era experiment with 12 invited member agencies has grown into a highly profitable, highly engaged network of 32 luxury and corporate agencies across 39 locations nationwide, now delivering its first-ever multi-day conference to mark another significant milestone.
The first-ever Link Live began on Thursday, November 20, with an Owners’ Day, bringing the network’s leaders together for the first time. The reconnection continued on Friday with an upbeat lunch for owners and key sponsors before the energy escalated into full tropical mode that evening. Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas transformed the W’s terrace into a vibrant recreation of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, complete with colourful leis, cocktails, island beats, and the famous humidity of Brisbane, as a fitting warm welcome.
Saturday sharpened the focus and brought the conference theme, “Reimagine Together,” to life. The full-day program was emceed by Andy Buerckener, CEO of Platinum Travel and a member of the LTG Advisory Board, who carried the proceedings with heart and humour.
An impressive LTG scorecard
The LTG Board, comprising Dani Galloway (Global MD of FCTG’s Premium and Independent Divisions and founder of LTG), Penny Spencer (Managing Director of Spencer Group of Companies and founder of LTG) and Anthony Goldman (Joint Managing Director of Goldman Travel Group and founder of LTG) officially opened the event with a compelling performance snapshot and a clear sense of where the network is heading next.
Galloway shared LTG’s A-grade scorecard, revealing a record $1.25 billion in TTV for FY24/25 and $18 million in profit, alongside 12 new hand-selected members joining the group in the past year.
Average organic growth of 14% across all member businesses, compared with 3–5% market standards, and a 100% retention rate underscored a network on the up.
Just as telling was the split: 46.8% of LTG’s organic growth came from existing members lifting performance, while 53.2% came from new members strengthening the collective.
LTG General Manager Scott Darlow then unpacked the source of the network’s product growth, highlighting firm year-on-year gains in touring (120%), hotels (116%), cars (52%), cruises (48%), insurance (15%), and air (3.5%).
“In three short years, we are now delivering over a billion dollars worth of sales,” Galloway said. “What I love most about these results is the consistency — this year we’re on track for 35% growth. Every single year of those three years, we have delivered beyond 30%.”
Where to next for LTG?
From there, Spencer outlined the next evolution of the network and its four pillars: a sharpened focus on deepening value for existing members, broadening the corporate–leisure mix and opening up more of the FCTG ecosystem. Education and innovation will also play a key role, Spencer noted, alongside a renewed emphasis on excellence in collaboration.
“We’re not just planning for growth,” Spencer said. “We’re reimagining what growth means. Not bigger, but better. Not just profitable, but purposeful. Not just successful, but significant.”
Goldman stepped up to challenge the room with a question: What could the future of travel advisory look like if the network embraced reinvention as boldly as other global innovators? “Apple revolutionised phones. Netflix redefined entertainment. Airbnb changed accommodations. Tesla transformed transportation,” he reminded the room.
“They didn’t just adapt to change; they reimagined their industries. And they did it by bringing together brilliant people with a shared vision. Sound familiar? That’s exactly what Link Travel Group represents,” he said.
An open panel discussion themed, “Redefining our value in travel,” and moderated by ATIA CEO Dean Long, followed and was an insightful exploration of pricing power, niche specialisation and the shift from agent to advisor through the real experiences of LTG members, Chris Goddard (Managing Director, The Maxim’s Group), Hannah Moore (Director & Co-Owner, Mobilise Travel), Matt Coyle (Founder, The Travel Project) and Sharyn Kitchener, (Managing Director, Mosman Travel).
Reimagining together
The Link Live momentum continued as Flight Centre Co-Founder Graham “Skroo” Turner joined Andy Buerckener for a candid conversation about the seismic shifts that allowed Link to emerge.
Skroo admitted he was initially cautious, unsure if the group would attract the kind of people required to make the model work. But he credited the leadership team of the Goldmans, Spencer, Galloway and Darlow for not only proving the concept but building “a high-performing, highly respected network that’s now one of the strongest consortia in Australia.”
Former Wallabies Captain and Australian rugby great John Eales delivered a standout keynote on leadership under pressure, anchored by his maxim: “Go into the areas you know nothing about to learn and grow.”
Bronwyn White then explored the role of AI in elevating, not replacing, the advisor experience, before Dr Tiff closed the day with a grounding and timely session on self-empowered wellbeing to help avoid burnout.
Saturday night’s Celebration Dinner, held at the stunning Customs House and sponsored by Qantas and Viking, proved to be the perfect finale. Featuring the Qantas Choir (prompting tears of joy all around), a theatrical performance from Viking (prompting oohs and aahs all around), and recognition of standout members and supplier partners, the evening hit all the high notes to celebrate a collective on the rise.
Sunday morning transitioned into a connection mode with an appointment-based Supplier Showcase, providing members and partners with quality, face-to-face time before Link Live 2025 concluded at lunchtime.
Over the weekend, delegates at the event also raised an incredible $48,600 in support of Michelle Kerr at Eden’s vital work rescuing victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Myanmar.
As its first-ever network conference, this event was a resounding success, and if one line captured the spirit of Link Live, it belonged to Goldman: “The best is yet to come.”
And for Link Travel Group, it truly feels like it is.
Link Live will be held every two years in Australia, with an offshore Link Retreat planned for 2026 (destination to be announced).
Link Travel Group is a joint venture between Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT), Goldman Travel Corporation and the Spencer Group of Companies.
