“I love that no one day is the same.” Nick Lewis loves a lot about his job. But the Air New Zealand hotshot’s win at the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) for Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Air gave him yet another, “unexpected” reason to smile. And the award was also beautifully timed. Here’s why…
Congratulations on the award… to what do you attribute your win?
Thank you so much. Whilst the win was unexpected on my part, it was a real acknowledgment of the hard work, time and passion which I’ve given to our industry over the past 18 years.
In terms of what may have attributed to the win? I think maybe it’s because at Air New Zealand we have one of the largest sales team of any airline which is still actively on the road, visiting our retail and corporate customers alike. This helps us to develop very meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with our customers.
I believe at Air New Zealand we do go that extra mile for our trade by offering outstanding support and service. That presence in market I’m sure doesn’t go unnoticed and I’m confident that our trade partners appreciate our focus and commitment to them.
How did you find the change of scenery for this year’s NTIAs in Melbourne? What did you like most about the 2023 event?
I feel as though the event being hosted in Melbourne this year was a welcome change. Sydney always puts on a great show but there was something truly special about this year’s NTIA event.
Having Melbourne as the backdrop and with the night being held at Crown Casino certainly added to the magic of the event, and Lehmo was the best MC that I’ve seen to date!
NTIA also held a private event on the Friday evening, somewhat of a pre-NTIA function. This was a stroke of genius as it gave finalists in each category the opportunity to meet and get to know one another before the big night. This helped to break down barriers and created a real sense of unity within our travel community.
A massive thank you to all involved as this year’s NTIA event will be talked about for years to come.
What are you most excited about that’s coming up for yourself or Air New Zealand?
Today marks my 10-year anniversary at Air New Zealand. I’m excited to continue to represent this great brand to our trade partners.
I am particularly excited to observe the introduction of new, innovative products launching within the airline mid to late next year, such as our Economy Skynest product and our new Business Premiere seats.
What do you love most about the travel industry?
I love that no one day is the same. Our industry is constantly evolving, with exciting developments in technology and digital changing the landscape dramatically. I think this is a positive thing; it keeps things fresh for us, it benefits our customers by giving them access to the very best booking and travel experience possible while also allowing our industry and its people to stay ahead of the times.
I truly believe that it’s a remarkable time to work in travel.
Care to share a fun travel tip that you swear by when exploring new places?
If heading to a foreign country for the first time, always endeavour to learn a few key words of the language. A few words or common phrases such as please or thank you can go a very long way and demonstrates to the locals your willingness to learn while being respectful of their culture.
I’ve recently discovered the translator app which made my recent trip to Japan a breeze! Simply type or speak into your phone and it will translate to the local language, brilliant.
For more information on Air New Zealand, click here.
Read our wrap of the 2023 NTIAs.
