The network celebrated 10 years last week since its first booking, and in September will reach another milestone when it holds its first long-haul conference.
‘We picked up agents at the end of 2025 and we have signed up two more this year already,’ says Beecher, who formed the company with co-director Allen Bell. ‘There are more in the pipeline so we are still showing growth after 10 years.’
He’s also pleased with the variety of agents now in the stable. ‘We have corporates (TMCs), VFR agents, broker groups, Kiwi retailers, tour operators and agents based in Australia, the Pacific, Asia and Europe.
‘What we don’t do is own our own shops, but anything else related travel is at GTN.’
Beecher says the conference in Malaysia from 4 to 7 September is sure to be a highlight of 2026.
‘Our first conference was at Rydges in Rotorua and that was a lot of fun but if you told me then that we would one day hold our conference at the Grand Hyatt in Kuala Lumpur I don’t think I would have believed it.’
In between Rotorua and KL, GTN has held conferences in Gold Coast, Taupo, Sunshine Coast, Sydney and Brisbane.
Beecher says the GTN model is still unique in the New Zealand market in that it only looks after independent agents and is not part of a bigger group.
‘We don’t report to a boardroom in Australia, we make decisions at GTN, by GTN, for GTN.
He adds that he is grateful and humbled by the support GTN has received from suppliers and agents.