After winning the award for Most Outstanding Mobile/Home-Based Travel Advisor at the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIAs), MTA Mobile Travel Agents’ Wendy Brockbank shares the secret to her success, tips for aspiring mobile agents and why she loves literally working in the fast lane.
Congratulations on the award… what sets your approach apart from others in the industry?
I’ve focussed on being unique in my approach to my business model. As the appointed authorised sales agent for both F1 Experiences and MotoGP Premier for Australia and New Zealand, I’ve been able to create a niche in my business in an area I am most passionate about.
I’ve been an avid Formula 1 fan for nearly 30 years and have also actively followed MotoGP for many years. After signing with F1 Experiences in 2018, within the first year, I quickly became one of the top five authorised sales agents globally, outselling large event agencies worldwide.
MotoGP Premier emerged in 2022 and I was approached immediately to become part of the global sales network as an authorised sales agent for Australia and New Zealand.
I also produce the exclusive “Crofty Shows” featuring Sky Sports F1 lead commentator, David Croft live on stage, and in the past, these shows have included David’s fellow commentators, Martin Brundle and Karun Chandhok. This provides a great opportunity to promote my business under the banner of MTA Travel/F1 Experiences Authorised Sales Agent/Fanofsport.com.
Given this was the first NTIAs outside of Sydney for nearly two decades, how did you find the change of scenery in Melbourne? What did you love most about this year’s event?
Based in Perth, this was my first NTIA gala awards dinner. I thoroughly enjoyed the event in Melbourne and thought the Crown Towers Palladium was a wonderful venue, particularly with the stage positioned in the middle.
For me, it felt natural coming to Melbourne, being the home of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. I thought the Emcee, Lehmo, did a fantastic job with his humour but also keeping the event schedule on track. I was really impressed by the format and the recognition ATIA gave each finalist, whether that was an individual or a company.
The conversation around travel has mostly moved on from looking back to looking forward… what does the future look like for you?
I am really excited about the future, especially with the huge growth in popularity and attendance of Formula 1 events around the world.
With 24 Formula 1 and 22 MotoGP races scheduled for 2024, there is a plethora of destinations for fans to visit, whether they are exploring a new city/country, returning to an old favourite or ticking off that bucket list experience. Formula 1 and MotoGP has it all!
What are you most excited about that’s coming up for yourself or the industry?
Growing my business. I’ll be travelling to the headquarters of F1 Experiences and MotoGP Premier in the USA and UK to stay abreast of the growing catalogue of events.
I’ll also be attending various F1 and MotoGP races throughout the year, getting first hand experience of what each official ticket package provides.
What’s the best advice you could give to aspiring mobile/home-based agents?
Research carefully which mobile travel advisor network suits you. For me, joining MTA Travel was the best decision I ever made and they gave me flexibility and encouragement to follow my passion and build my business to what it is today. I absolutely love being a part of the MTA family.
What do you love most about your job?
I am very fortunate to have such a close involvement with Formula 1 and MotoGP. Having the vast knowledge of both sports and personal experience of the experiential packages on offer, allows me to guide my clients to choose the perfect package best suited to them.
It is so rewarding as I get to share those experiences with my clients, either directly at an event or via social media. Also, as an authorised sales agent based in Australia means I am easily accessible and provides security for the client in purchasing official tickets that come directly from Formula 1 and MotoGP.
Read our wrap of the 2023 NTIAs.
