A familiar name in the travel industry, Anna Powell recently stepped into a dual role at Playford Travel Group, taking on the position of Operations Manager for the retail team and Business Development Manager (BDM) for Hosted Holidays.
With nearly 30 years of experience across retail and wholesale travel, Powell brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the Sunshine Coast-based business, which operates under the Travel Associates franchise model.
A powerhouse team and a new opportunity
Playford Travel Group, owned and operated by Neil and Therese Playford, runs two Virtuoso-member retail stores in Caloundra and Mountain Creek, QLD, alongside its wholesale arm, Hosted Holidays. The business is well known for its experienced team—each staff member has at least a decade of retail travel expertise. Now, with Powell joining the ranks, Playford Travel is looking to build on its strong foundation.
“We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Anna’s passion for travel and knowledge of the industry join our business,” said Neil Playford.
“She will help us build on the amazing business we currently have and take it to the next level.”
Expanding Hosted Holidays’ reach
Powell’s role as BDM will focus on expanding Hosted Holidays’ footprint in the retail travel industry. Unlike other operators, Hosted Holidays does not sell directly to consumers, instead working closely with retail agents to offer fully escorted small-group tours in Australia and worldwide.
“My mission is to ensure agents are aware of the Hosted Holidays product range and actively want to sell it,” said Powell.
“We offer professional support and excellent commission on the entire package—including flights—so I want to help agents capitalise on that opportunity.”
A career spanning continents
Powell’s industry experience spans nearly three decades, covering a variety of roles across retail, wholesale, and expedition travel. Before joining Playford Travel Group, she was Operations Manager at Pursers Travel Group, supporting a 42-strong frontline team in areas ranging from HR and training to supplier relations and event management.
Before that, she was BDM for Aurora Expeditions, a role that cemented her passion for expedition cruising—especially in the Polar regions. That passion once led to an unexpected adventure: a pilots’ strike left her temporarily stranded in Svalbard in 2022.
Next stop: Japan and Indonesia
A keen skier, hiker, and cruise enthusiast, Powell has visited all seven continents but still has an extensive bucket list. Her next personal travels include a ski trip to Japan with Club Med, followed by a Viking ocean cruise to Indonesia.
“I love that working in travel gives me the perfect excuse to indulge my passion for adventure,” Powell said. “I know I was just away, but it’s my job—I have to go!”
With her extensive background and passion for the industry, Powell’s next adventure—growing Playford Travel Group and Hosted Holidays—looks set to be a memorable one.
