Bunnik Tours has expanded its National Trade Sales team, adding Kate Thornburg as Business Development Manager for New South Wales and reinforcing its commitment to on-the-road support and stronger trade partnerships.
Based in Sydney, Thornburg will work alongside NSW and ACT BDM Walter Delorie to expand the tour company’s footprint and deepen engagement with agency partners throughout the state.
The appointment reflects a broader strategy to enhance frontline support for travel advisors as demand for guided touring continues to grow.
Thornburg brings more than 20 years’ travel industry experience to Bunnik Tours, spanning both retail and wholesale roles, as well as international nous across the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Her career includes more than 15 years as a retail travel advisor as well as four years as a BDM with APT, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the sales journey.
Bunnik Tours National Sales Manager Zoe Francis said Thornburg’s appointment further strengthens the company’s on-the-road sales team.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kate to the team. Her extensive experience across the travel industry, particularly as both a retail consultant and BDM, allows her to truly understand and support our agent partners,” she said.
“Kate’s energy, industry knowledge and passion for travel make her a fantastic addition, and we’re excited to see her build strong relationships across NSW.”
In her new role, Thornburg will focus on building long-term relationships with advisors, delivering targeted training initiatives and hosting client events to drive product confidence and conversion.
“Having worked on both sides of the industry, I understand the challenges agents face and the level of support they need from a BDM to succeed,” Thornburg said.
“My role is to build strong relationships with our trade partners and give them the confidence to sell Bunnik Tours. Once clients experience our tours, our repeat rate speaks for itself, which is great for both our partners and our business.
“I love that Bunnik Tours is an Australian, family-run business where the leadership team is still actively involved in hosting tours.
“The loyalty of both staff and clients is a huge indicator that the company is doing something right, and I’m excited to be part of that,” she said.
