Evolution Travel Collective (ETC) has signed up as the Gold Plus Sponsor for Niche is Nice 2025 boutique roadshow for travel advisors, bringing four specialist brands to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne events from 18–20 August.
ETC Co-Founder Ingrid Berthelsen explains why this year’s Niche is Nice series is a must-attend for agents who want a competitive edge in a crowded industry.
Helping agents level up and stand out
Last year’s Niche is Nice boutique roadshow for travel advisors shone the spotlight on 32-plus specialist suppliers and diverse destinations, attracting more than 300 agents in three cities on its inaugural outing.
It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to invest in your business by levelling up your knowledge and making valuable connections with luxury, touring, cruising and adventure brands.
ETC Managing Director Ingrid Berthelsen said there are tangible benefits for both travel brands and advisors to attend Niche is Nice, particularly for mobile or home-based travel professionals.
“Travel agents benefit from learning about new, niche products to better service and meet the needs of their discerning clients,” she said.
“It’s an opportunity to engage with and learn about brands you may not see in store all the time, or one- or two-person operators without BDMs on the road.
“The brands showing at Niche is Nice are unique, they’re smaller, and can’t always afford to attend all of the supplier roadshows and agency conferences.
“Advisors can come along and learn about something new that may be the perfect product for their clients,” she said.
Showcase more diverse travel offerings
ETC is back for its second year as a major sponsor after seeing a significant uptick in brand recognition for both the company and the brands it represents.
Brands find it valuable to showcase their products to a wide range of advisors, especially those who may not have been previously aware of their offerings.
The in-person marketplace and presentation format also enable suppliers to engage directly with agents and increase brand recognition.
This year, ETC will bring four clients – Explore Worldwide, Great Journeys New Zealand, Expedition Experience and International Rail – to all three cities.
Niche is Nice 2025 will be the first foray into the Australian market for Canadian yacht and small-ship voyage company Expedition Experience, one of ETC’s newest partners, and attendees will be among the first to learn about the brand and its unique point of difference.
Explore Worldwide will be back to share its small-group adventures in 100 countries globally, along with scenic rail tours and passes from Great Journeys New Zealand and International Rail, highlighting sustainable and slow travel experiences.
“Last year, we welcomed the opportunity to get our brands in front of so many different agents around Australia – that was our key objective for Evolution Travel Collective,” Berthelsen said.
“It was a chance to engage with new agents who didn’t know a lot about the brands we represent and the perfect way to introduce some of our newer partners into the market.”
Create new connections
Another bonus of attending meant advisors could meet new ETC members and for the highly experienced BDM team to clarify their roles and ways they support agents, along with the exciting updates from participating brands.
“At last year’s events, agents were able to come up and chat with us and understand how we fit into the picture as well as how we work as a business,” Berthelsen said.
“We explain how we operate as a BDM who represents different products and offers sales support, and then agents make the booking directly with the brand, because some agents aren’t quite sure how a travel representation company works.”
ETC Co-Founders Ingrid Berthelsen and Pete Rawley will attend all Niche is Nice 2025 events, along with BDMs Rebecca Hodgson in Brisbane, Richard McKisack in Sydney and Amanda Fenwick in Melbourne.
Niche is Niche 2025 attendees will also have the chance to win some amazing travel prizes, such as Swiss Rail Passes from one of ETC’s newest partners, International Rail.
Register to attend Niche is Nice 2025 in your city:
- Brisbane: Monday, 18 August 2025 from 5:45-9pm at W Brisbane
- Sydney: Tuesday, 19 August 2025 from 5:45-9pm at Hyatt Regency Sydney
- Melbourne: Wednesday, 20 August 2025 from 5:45-9pm at The Langham, Melbourne
For all partnership enquiries, email carolyn@karryon.com.au or dani@karryon.com.au
