WINDSONG Travel staff grinned more broadly after they returned with three awards from the Travellers Choice Members Award Night in Melbourne on November 21.
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“We were the top performers in the entire Travellers Choice group, which is made of over 300 agencies nationwide,” Inverell manager Jess Van der Merwe said.
“It’s so exciting.”
The Inverell and Bellingen branches of the business, owned by Jamie Cracknell, snagged the award against all comers, including contenders from the national metropolitan areas.
Windsong was recognised first for their provision of Cover More travel insurance and Evergreen Tours.
“So those two companies recognised us for our achievement,” Jess said.
Jess was accompanied by Inverell staff member Marnie Wade and Bellingen manager Leonie Ivey.
The Travellers Choice award is based on their growth, performance and contribution within the company.
The awards were part of a three-day conference with the Travellers Choice group members.
Jess said the experience of Melbourne was more than a gala dinner with and excursion to the MCG and training.
We’re from Inverell, it’s amazing; it’s so good.
- Jes Van der Merwe.
The Windsong staff welcomed the chance to mingle with other industry professionals.
“It’s so inspiring, and we have all these guest speakers down there that help motivate you even more,” she said.
“It’s all about the client experience and trying to deliver the best service and products you possibly can to your clients.”
She felt being under the Travellers Choice umbrella was special, and said the members were like a family.
“And it’s just growing and growing,” she said.
“They just won their nationwide AFTA awarded, which is a huge deal in the industry, so they beat Flight Centre, they beat Hello World, they beat Harvey World Travel.”
Windsong has won at the awards for the past four years with a gold win in 2013.
Jess said it was gratifying to be recognised.
“We’re from Inverell, it’s amazing; it’s so good,” she grinned.
She felt she and the local team must be doing something right due to the familiar faces that walk through the door.
“And we owe it all to our clients, we can’t stress that enough, because we wouldn’t have got where we are without the loyal support from everybody,” she said.
“It blows you away.”