Displaying items by tag:John Willson

First Travel Group members have been reminded they need to understand where they add value to their customers’ travel planning and purchasing process – and then to ‘double down’ on it.

Delegates at the First Travel Group’s frontliners’ conference in Grand Millennium Auckland over the weekend were reminded that their advantage over technology will always be personal knowledge.

‘You have really grasped the last 12 months and produced fantastic results,’ FTG’s general manager retail, John Willson told attendees on Saturday morning. ‘Technology will never replace experience, talent and knowledge.’

He says the conference theme of Elevate encompassed a number of areas, including the need to adapt. ‘One thing we know about this industry is that it is constantly changing and that we have to work smarter, not harder.’

The conference included an afternoon dedicated to cruise last Friday plus a welcome function, then supplier booth sessions, panel discussions and a keynote speaker during the day on Saturday.

Proceedings wrapped up with an awards night. Among the major achievers were Top Broker Award 2024, Jane Hanson, YOU Travel & Cruise Bethlehem; Top Cruise Consultant, Lisa Wharfe, Pukekohe Travel; Top Corporate Consulant, Kirstin Dickens, Fortis Travel; Top Retail Consultant, Lydia Haydon, YOU Travel & Cruise Bethlehem; Thrive Award, Gail Littin, Pukekohe Travel.

More than 170 FTG delegates were joined by 50 supplier representatives during the event.

• First Travel Group’s Paul Smith (left) and John Willson with Supreme Award winners Kirstin Dickens, Jane Hanson, Gail Littin, Lisa Wharfe and Lydia Haydon
• From Holland, Clarke and Beatson, Christchurch…D’Arne Haines, Anne Jory, Emma Dennison, Charlotte Zijlstra, Holly Turner, Mitchell Holland, Jacquie Holland, Jo O’Neill at the welcome function on Friday night
• Nikki Brown, YOU Travel & Cruise Feilding; Alka Thapar, MSC Cruises; Julie Sievwright, YOU Travel & Cruise Taupo
• John Willson, First Travel Group; Stu Jones, Air New Zealand; Nigel Seidelin, Express Tickets
• At the elevate conference trade/supplier event….Mya Dunlop and Michelle Berett, both YOU TRAVEL & Cruise Warkworth; Amaan Khan, Total Holiday Options; Stephen Jennings, YOU Travel & Cruise, Napier
• Jana Schleehauf, ITA Network; Amy Crossen, Janelle Buchanan, Brittany Frost, all YOU Travel & Cruise Ferrymead
• Francois Guionn, Mel Dearing, Paul Smith, Ada Leger, Debra Phillips, all Lifestyle Holidays
• Gianna Pfenniger, YOU Travel & Cruise Manly; Dennis Day, YOU Travel & Cruise Manly; Tracey Brennan, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Pam Hardy, Cody Fifield, both YOU Travel & Cruise Levin; Brittany Homan, Fiji Airways
• James Douglas, Singapore Airlines; Sam Fowler, Travel Connections; and Paul Dymond, Wendy Wu Tours
• Jenny Galliven, Zest4Travel; Katie Meek, Qantas; and Emma Dennison, Holland, Clarke & Beatson
• Steve Parker, Viking; Kylie Crouch, First Travel Group

The New Zealand travel trade can expect to be as busy as last year as it heads into 2024 but the sector still needs to be careful about the way forward in the medium to long term, says John Willson, general manager retail at First Travel Group.

YOU Travel has appointed Toni Paltridge to its marketing department. 

Paltridge has held various marketing positions within the New Zealand travel industry dating back to Stella Travel services, operating her own company Sister Trio Retreats, and various temporary roles in the industry throughout the pandemic. 

Despite initially being driven largely by the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) market and pent up demand, the current upsurge in travel enquiries and bookings should in no way be regarded as a flash in the pan, says First Travel Group’s general manager retail John Willson.

He says the trade needs to adapt to the current business environment, at least in the medium term, where the challenge is having the people power to cater for the upsurge – as well as making sure travel businesses are profitable.

The travel and tourism sectors have greeted the Government’s five step opening plan with enthusiasm, with TAANZ president Brent Thomas saying this is the first time since March 2020 that the message has clearly been ‘the borders are open’.

However they have also pinpointed major ongoing challenges, particualrly the self isolation requirement. (See separate story this page)

Travel locations that have remained open through the Covid-19 period, particularly branded locations, will retain a strong position in the market as the travel industry recovers, says John Willson, general manger retail with First Travel.

He says clients will be looking for financially stable and trustworthy advisors who are easy to access for a  one-on-one conversation.

‘The travelling public will still do their searching online but either through a lack of confidence or because of fear instille upon them, they will not press the book button.’

First Travel Group is inviting travel agents and brokers to get a first hand demonstration of its new technology, saying its leading edge system will enable the trade to take full advantage of travel’s return.

‘We realise these are frustrating times for the sector,’ says First Travel Group’s (FTG’s) general manager retail, John Willson, ‘but we have been putting a lot of hard work into our offerings and we believe we are well positioned for the reboot of travel.

‘It’s a waiting game at the moment but we know it will come back strong – the experience in the US and UK, and soon Australia, show us that.’

First Travel Group is looking to relaunch, refresh and revitalise for 2021, says chief executive Malcolm MacLeod.

The year will see a focus on new technology, including the Odysseus booking system in conjunction with Creative Cruising New Zealand and the high-productivity air ticketing programme Aeronology. The group will also be looking to address points raised in its 2020 members satisfaction survey such as improving turnaround times on quotes and bookings, and introducing more exclusive deals. 

Taiwan’s continued success in controlling Covid-19 is a reminder that New Zealand’s ‘travel bubble’ plans should not be restricted to Australia and the Pacific, a number of trade sources point out.

Paul Dymond, managing director of Wendy Wu Tours in New Zealand says the Taiwanese seem to have successfully managed Covid-19 and should soon be in a position to open borders with