This year marks an incredible milestone for Rosemarie Church, owner of itravel Sutherland, as she celebrates 40 years in the travel industry.
Church’s love for travel began at 15 during a family trip to Fiji, inspiring a career that started in 1984 at Travelwell Lane Cove under mentor Freya Luick.
Since then, Rosemarie has built an impressive resume, owning Jetset Hurstville before joining the itravel network in 2014.
“What I am proud of most of all is what we have accomplished as a team, working together, building our business and diversifying in the group space. Through the highs and lows, we have achieved and stuck together,” she remarked.
Church leads a team of 10, inspired by group travel since a 1980s tour of South Korea. But it was a 2003 request that transformed her business.
“Twenty-one years ago, I was approached by a couple of schools wanting to tour Europe and the USA. It was a ‘sink or swim’ moment, learning as we navigated the procedures and processes for managing groups of over 100 people,” she said.
“Word-of-mouth referrals quickly became our foundation, and group travel has since grown into our niche market.”
According to itravel, Rosemarie’s commitment to exceptional service has solidified her reputation in the industry. She’s also been recognised with multiple awards. But her success is also a testament to the ongoing support from the network.
“I love being part of the itravel family. It’s a dynamic and innovative group that truly values its members, always providing support,” she stated.
itravel CEO Steve Labroski called Church “an exceptional leader and a true inspiration to our network”.
“Her passion, dedication, and client-first approach embody everything itravel stands for,” he added.
“We are honoured to celebrate her incredible milestone and proud to have her as part of our itravel family.”
Earlier this month, the group reported that membership across Australia had risen 24 per cent in 2024.
