What does it take to be a top travel agency manager? We ask Helloworld Travel Mt Pleasant’s Stacey Brownsey, who recently took home the gong for Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager at the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIAs). Along with the recipe for her success, Stacey shares what’s she most looking forward to at her agency and her top tip for aspiring agency managers.
Congratulations on the award… to what do you attribute your win?
I am very lucky to have a wonderful team behind me who support me daily and inspire me to be a better leader every day.
I set high standards and as a team, we agree to these, so we all know the level that is expected. This ensures a high level of service/standards across all aspects of our business.
I would never ask anyone to do something I am not prepared to do myself and I truly lead by example.
The conversation around travel has mostly moved on from looking back to looking forward… what does the future look like for you?
The future is bright. We have been through the toughest of times and have came through stronger than ever.
The role of a trusted advisor is more important now than ever. My team is growing, so that is amazing!
What are you most excited about that’s coming up for yourself or the industry?
I am most excited to see my new team members develop. Half of my team has less than two years of experience, so seeing them grow their client base and learn is exciting to me as I can be a part of their journey.
One of my rookies, Georgia Walk, was up for the Rookie of the Year award, so that was a real thrill for me!
What’s the best advice you could give to aspiring travel agency managers?
Stay engaged with your team – they are your backbone and you cannot do it without them.
What do you love most about your job?
Seeing my clients, many of whom I have looked after for over 20 years, return from their travels with stories to share. It’s creating their dreams that is so fulfilling!
Care to share a fun travel tip that you swear by when exploring new places?
Try the food! My husband always Googles the local dishes and we were recently in Norway and Finland (when the awards were announced) and he insisted we try reindeer – it was amazing!
Read our wrap of the 2023 NTIAs.
For more information on Helloworld Mt Pleasant, click here.
