Peri McCardle has been appointed as the new Account Director for Australia and New Zealand at Canuckiwi Ltd. Based in Auckland, McCardle brings over a decade of industry expertise in tourism and destination marketing, and is poised to make a significant impact on travel trade support and destination awareness in the region.
Peri McCardle’s travel career has spanned continents, starting in Canada and moving through various roles in marketing and sales for leading destinations across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Her knack for partnership development and deep understanding of destination marketing has seen her excel at prominent organisations such as Booking.com and New Zealand’s largest holiday home management company.
McCardle’s expertise promises to strengthen Canuckiwi’s position in the travel representation business. She has a clear passion for promoting diverse destinations and brings fresh ideas for trade and consumer campaigns to help agents deliver even better results for their clients.
“I’m really excited to be part of such a dynamic company that works with some amazing destinations,” McCardle says.
“I’m looking forward to building strong relationships across the travel trade and ensuring our clients stay at the forefront of both consumer and industry minds.”
What McCardle brings to the ANZ market
As Account Director, McCardle will provide in-market expertise, media buying, product development, incentive campaigns and travel trade support across the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Her work will be instrumental in building and maintaining partnerships with agents and travel trade professionals, helping them expand their knowledge of the destinations Canuckiwi represents.
In her new role, McCardle will focus on key accounts, particularly the Washington, DC and Grapevine, Texas markets. These are destinations with much to offer travellers, and McCardle’s task is to ensure that travel professionals have the knowledge, tools, and enthusiasm to sell these destinations effectively.
McCardle will also support broader campaigns such as Canuckiwi’s highly successful “Sell Your Way to the USA” program, which incentivises travel agents to promote US destinations. This campaign, already well-known in the industry, connects Australian and New Zealand agents with the US market in a tangible way, and McCardle’s expertise is expected to provide even greater support to participating agents.
Strengthening industry connections
With McCardle’s appointment, Canuckiwi’s goal is to further solidify its relationships with key stakeholders, from airlines to destination partners.
“Peri’s deep industry knowledge and experience across multiple international markets make her an invaluable addition to our team,” Corey Marshall, Principal at Canuckiwi, says.
“Her work will further enhance our presence in Australia and New Zealand, ensuring our clients continue to receive exceptional support and representation.”
For travel professionals, this appointment means more targeted campaigns and support, helping them offer fresh and exciting destinations to their clients while staying informed about the latest trends and opportunities in the market.
What this means for you
For Australian and New Zealand travel professionals, McCardle’s appointment signifies an even stronger partner in Canuckiwi. Her role will ensure that agents have more direct access to the information and resources they need, whether that’s marketing support or destination expertise.
Her expertise in managing complex marketing campaigns will offer tangible benefits for travel agents. In an industry where staying ahead of trends is key, agents will have access to valuable resources, product knowledge, and direct support to help them market destinations like Washington, DC, and Grapevine more effectively. This could translate into better business outcomes and enhanced customer satisfaction, as agents are empowered to create tailored travel experiences for their clients.
With her experience in the field, McCardle understands the complexities agents face in promoting niche destinations and is determined to make that task easier. This means more opportunities for travel professionals in Australia and New Zealand to offer unique, tailor-made experiences to their clients.
