After a two-year hiatus, The Travel Corporation (TTC) held its first combined tour brands event since the pandemic began last Thursday with a ritzy get-together and relaunch at CIRQ Rooftop Bar at Crown Sydney.
With 140 guests arriving from all over Australia, this was also the first visit back Down Under for TTC Tour Brands CEO Gavin Tollman and Contiki CEO Adam Armstrong in two years, both of who flew in from Geneva, especially for the event.
Not surprisingly, the Full House-themed evening was one of reconnection and celebration as glammed-up colleagues from the industry reunited to reflect on both the journey so far and the road ahead while strengthening the need to work collectively and rebuild a vibrant industry for everyone.
Elevated 26-floors above the sparkling Harbour City, there was live music, flowing champagne and sky-high views as excited guests relished another milestone moment in the industry’s recovery with their peers.
The formalities began with event Emcee and Head of Trade Sales and Partnerships TTC Tour brands, Australia Tomas Malmberg giving a stirring Welcome to Country, including sharing a story of how Barangaroo is named after a powerful Cammeraygal woman who lived in the area at the time of early colonial settlement. She (Barangaroo) was a key figure in local Aboriginal culture and community and remains so today.
Karryon founder Matt Leedham moderated a fireside chat with special guests and touring ‘aces’ Gavin Tollman, TTC Tour Brands CEO; Toni Ambler, Managing Director TTC Tour Brands Oceania and Contiki CEO Adam Armstrong, who shared industry insights and trends, the new direction of the brands, and why the outbound touring brands have now joined forces.
Key takeaways from the fireside chat included a discussion on the rise in demand for touring, pre-cursored by recent research identifying a whopping 3.4 million Australians who said they are considering booking a tour in 2023.
The youth and middle touring markets were slated as sectors on the rise, with TTC tour brands and particularly Contiki and Costsaver, reporting strong demand, especially out of the U.S and Europe, where the travel industry has rebounded a lot faster.
With the luxury market also full of potential, event guests also got a sneak peek at some exciting innovations to the Luxury Gold brand coming in January 2023.
Regarding sustainability, Contiki CEO Adam Armstrong said TTC’s long-standing Treadright Foundation and Make Travel Matter experiences were “resonating more than ever” as more travellers of all demographics desire to impact their travels positively.
With TTC having paid out $173 million in refunds throughout the pandemic, there were also heartfelt thanks for the Australian and New Zealand trade support shown to TTC over the last two years, with TTC Tour Brands CEO Gavin Tollman remarking how “Incredibly grateful” he was for the way the trade had worked with TTC to solve many complex challenges together.
Sharing how TTC had handled the last couple of years in Australia and New Zealand with a vastly reduced team, Toni Ambler, Managing Director of TTC Tour Brands ANZ, added, “We learnt that there were no rules and we could only focus on what was within our control – which was ensuring we supported the trade as much as was humanly possible.”
“Travel is bouncing back, and while it still remains complex, there is a big opportunity for agents to step into the void, fatten the file and make money,” said Mr Tollman.
And the simple message for trade? “TTC Tour Brands has a full house of tours for anyone and is easy to work with and sell,” said Ms Ambler.
Creating some magic and wonder to the night while bringing to life the whole house concept was Magic Mike – no, not a stripper, but a professional magician who has performed events around Australia and the world, including working with comedians Hamish and Andy, Fitzy and Wippa and the Australian Cricket team.
After packs of TTC-branded cards were handed out to everyone at the event, Mike pulled off a range of mesmerising tricks using a Joker (Representing Contiki), Ace (Trafalgar), King (Insight), Queen (Luxury Gold) and Jack (Costsaver).
Cue bemused faces and plenty of head scratching. How on earth did he do that?
“With TTC Tour Brands, you always have the winning hand. No one card is the strongest – they all play a part, and it depends on what game you are trying to play,” said Emcee Mr Malmberg.
The event concluded with more late-night music, dancing, and fresh optimism from all that; finally, the road ahead for the touring sector is one we can all look forward towards.
For more, head to Hop, skip and jump right in with TTC Tour Brands
To check out the full gallery of images from the night, head over to our Karryon Facebook page here.
