What a year it was for TravelManagers Australia in 2024. The travel agency group saw year-on-year, double-digit growth in 2024, with sales increasing by 12 per cent. But perhaps most telling were the individual successes of its personal travel managers (PTMs).
According to TravelManagers Australia Chief Operating Officer Grant Campbell, nearly half (40 per cent) of its PTMs surpassed $1 million in annual sales, with many easily exceeding that.
“Almost one-third of those PTMs achieved more than two million dollars in sales, which is only possible because understand their clients, anticipate their needs and consistently deliver beyond their expectations,” he says.
“Our 50 top-selling PTMs continued to excel by sustaining impressive commission earnings in 2024.
“Given they have the option to structure their business using a 90/10 commission split, they are exceeding the outdated notion that travel can’t be a financially rewarding career.”
Campbell gives a special shout-out to TravelManagers’ regional PTMs, who are matching their big city counterparts.
“Among those who consistently appear in the ranks of our top 50 achievers, we have PTMs based in Dubbo, Parkes, Coffs Harbour, Forster, Anna Bay, Geelong, Devonport, Townsville and Kapunda,” he explains.
When it comes to the major drivers of growth, Campbell points to a handful of destinations, but flags one hotspot – and one sector – in particular.
“TravelManagers’ growth in 2024 has been driven by increased demand for a variety of destinations, with double-digit growth for New Zealand, Asia and North America,” he reports. “Cruise sales have grown by 30 per cent, fuelled by a similar increase in international cruise departures between 2023 and 2024, while South America has increased by a phenomenal 48 per cent.”
TravelManagers’ success was recognised in October when the group was named Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network at the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) for the third time in four years.
“Our focus is on developing and refining the tools they [PTMs] need to reduce stress and build resilience, while also implementing technological innovations that will enhance productivity and inform decision-making,” he states.
“With an increasing number of experienced travel advisors drawn to freedom, flexibility and great earning potential offered by TravelManagers’ home-based model, we are entering 2025 with optimism and high expectations.”
In 2024, TravelManagers’ nine Business Partnership Managers organised more than 850 face-to-face meetings and training sessions for its PTMs. Last last year, the company added not one, but two seasoned industry experts as BPMs.
Meanwhile, the marketing team delivered more than 100 targeted campaigns, ensuring PTMs stayed ahead in a highly competitive market.
It’ll be fascinating to see what 2025 brings the group.
Read our wrap of TravelManagers’ annual national conference in Cairns in September 2024. And check out all the winners of the network’s annual awards.
