After 104 years as a family business and on the eve of his departure, The Travel Corporation TTC Tour Brands CEO Gavin Tollman reflects on the journey and the future as the industry giant embarks on a new era after acquisition by Apollo Brands.
TTC’s new owners also announced an updated Australia and New Zealand leadership team as longtime CEO Dave Hosking stepped down with Toni Ambler now TTC Tour Brands Oceania Managing Director.
Ambler will report directly to TTC Tour Brands Interim CEO Melissa DaSilva with a dotted line to newly appointed UK-based Chairman Carl Leaver. There will also be changed reporting alignments to some of TTC Brands in Australia, including Adventure World and AAT Kings Group.
On his personal blog, the outgoing TTC Tour Brands CEO wrote:
The time has come. With overwhelming pride, I am ready and excited to pass on the leadership torch of my role in TTC.
As I write this message to you, and particularly to the greater TTC community, the significance of this moment is both unbelievably real and exciting to me. This is one of the most deeply touching times in my life.
To my core I know, I feel, how this moment will instil in me a lasting, deep sense of gratitude for the rest of my life, and for one reason: the extraordinary TTC journey on which I’ve had the privilege to embark on. This experience has shaped my life, enabling me to live my love of discovering of the world alongside a TTC team that fashions and delivers excellence everywhere TTC travels, touches and appreciates.
This, friends across the TTC world, is why I look to the future, to your future, with unwavering confidence. I know that I leave TTC in the hands of a leadership team that not only shares my vision but is also deeply committed to TTC’s enduring mission of making travel a force for good for all, for the visitor and visited, for generations to come.
I also know, and feel, that leaving TTC is not just the end of a chapter; it is the beginning of a new era for a company that has always been more than just a business.
TTC is a family, a movement, a beacon of what responsible and purposeful travel can and be. As I reflect on the years gone by, I am reminded of the countless milestones we’ve achieved together. We have weathered storms, celebrated triumphs, and consistently stayed true to our core values, even when faced with the most challenging of circumstances.
Believe in a vision beyond borders
At the heart of TTC lies a belief that travel has the power to transform not just individuals but the world. It’s a philosophy that has guided TTC for over a century.
From the inception of the company in a small hotel in a poor fishing village in Paternoster, South Africa, my family has always held a deep conviction that travel can be a bridge between cultures, a means to foster understanding, and a tool to preserve and protect the beauty of our planet. Business by business, brand by brand, country by country, this belief has been the foundation of TTC’s enduring success and its unwavering commitment to ‘MAKE TRAVEL MATTER™‘.
You, me, we all know that TTC is not just an extraordinary travel company because of the breadth of our offerings or the depth of our expertise, it is TTC’s commitment to responsible travel, as embodied by my cousin’s vision for the creation of the TreadRight Foundation, that set us apart.
TreadRight is the living, breathing proof that we are dedicated to ensuring that travel leaves a positive impact on the places and people we visit. It is the barometer by which we measure our success, not just in commercial terms but in the difference we can make in the world, and for the world.
The projects supported by TreadRight are a testament to our commitment to sustainability and community engagement. From wildlife conservation to cultural preservation, TreadRight’s initiatives have been carefully chosen and meticulously managed to ensure that they are making a real difference.
This is not just corporate social responsibility; this is the heart of what we do. It is why we exist, and it is why I know that TTC’s best days are ahead.
Carry forward the dream of a family
As we now pass the torch to the next generation of leadership, we do so with a profound sense of responsibility to the legacy of past leaders, my grandfather, my uncle, my father, Mike Ness, the visionaries who built TTC into what it is today.
Their dreams were never just about building a successful business; they were about using travel to connect people and cultures across the globe. It was about creating experiences ‘driven by service’ and ‘doing the right thing’ that would change lives and, in doing so, change the world.
As a 13-year-old, I had the opportunity to travel internationally for the first time, it was transformational. As a child growing up in Apartheid South Africa, a new world was uncovered, I realised that travel has the power to broaden horizons, break down barriers and build bridges of understanding.
Our business creators’ vision was that TTC would continue to be a force for good long after they were gone. Now, as the current generation depart, we are filled with optimism, knowing that their vision is as robust today as it was back then.
The leadership at TTC is not just poised to carry the dream forward; they are ready to expand it, to innovate, and to lead the company into a new era of growth and impact.
The legacy of our family will not be defined solely by our past achievements, but now more so by the actions of those we have worked with over the years. These individuals will not only build upon but also evolve the foundations our family laid over 104 years ago, elevating the wonder of TTC to heights we could have never imagined will be the greatest gift of all.
I have no doubt that the new ownership and the executives within TTC will continue to set the standard for what it means to be a responsible and forward-thinking travel company driven by purpose, passion, and its exceptional people.
My call to action: The future of tourism is in your hands
As I look to the future, I see both opportunities as well as challenges. I believe that travel and the desired aspiration to travel will not be abating anytime in the coming decades. But with that will come the tests between the visitors and the visited.
The world of travel will be constantly evolving. And with this evolution emanates the responsibility for those in travel to ensure that tourism remains a force for good for all.
TTC must continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, to innovate and to lead by example. TTC must ensure that future generations can experience the same joy, wonder and connection that travel has brought to so many of us.
To the global TTC community, I say this: the work you do is more important now than ever before. The world needs TTC to continue to be a champion for sustainable, responsible tourism. TTC has the power to make a difference; to protect our planet, to support communities, and to ensure that travel remains a force for good for all. Do not take this responsibility lightly.
With gratitude and hope
A new dawn is breaking, a fresh beginning with a great positive light on the horizon. This is the perfect foundation for an exceptionally successful and fulfilling journey ahead. As I step away from my role in TTC, I do so with immense gratitude for the privilege of having been a part of this incredible journey. To the TTC family, to its partners, and to the travellers who have entrusted TTC with their dreams and adventures, I say thank you. It has been the honour to have served as a TTC leader.
The future is bright, and I am filled with both optimism and expectation as I look ahead. The legacy of the past lives on in each of us, in TTC’s belief in the power of travel to change the world. Here’s to the next century of making travel matter.
I wish you greatness and importantly, that you continue to travel well…
