WE KNOW: Mandarin Oriental Singapore

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The Travel Authority Group’s Managing Director, Peter Hosper, recently returned from travels that took him through Singapore and into the legendary Mandarin Oriental Singapore hotel.

“Mandarin Oriental Singapore is an old favourite of mine. I just love, love, love this hotel. It really has stood the test of time,” said Peter.

“The hotel’s staff are amazing. Nothing is ever too much trouble. There’s also a great pool and spa. I’m always sad to leave this wonderful hotel,” he added.

Peter stayed in a Club Marina Bay Room. These high-floor rooms feature:

  • Panoramic views
  • The Oriental Club Lounge access
  • Seating and desk areas
  • Marble bathrooms with bath and walk-in shower
  • High speed WiFi

The Oriental Club

Located on the 19th floor, the luxurious Oriental Lounge is a peaceful retreat with panoramic views of the Singapore skyline.

Club benefits include:

  • Champagne breakfast and afternoon tea daily, along with all-day wines, beers and soft beverages
  • Evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
  • Complimentary pressing of two garments per day
  • Complimentary high speed internet access
  • Use of meeting room with teleconferencing facilities for up to two hours per day
  • Private check-in and check-out at the Oriental Club Lounge
  • Guaranteed late check-out at 4pm

“The Oriental Club is stylish, fabulous and classy with an amazing food and beverage offering—the nicest hotel club in Asia, in my opinion,” says Peter.

For more information, simply leave us a note in the form below, or CALL US to discuss your specific requirements.

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EXPLORING MELBOURNE with Virgin Australia and Crown Hotels

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We’ve recently returned from hosting a brilliant group of our clients on a famil trip to Melbourne generously supported by our friends at Virgin Australia and Crown Hotels.

Led by David Thompson, our Manager of Sales & Client experience, and Victor Araya—The Travel Authority’s Corporate Business Manager, the group experienced Virgin Australia’s airport lounges, stayed at the very impressive Crown Metropol hotel—courtesy of Crown Hotels, and explored the Terracotta Warriors exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.

“It was a brilliant way to showcase our expertise and to say thanks to our clients”, said David Thompson.

“The trip ran like clockwork and highlighted the depth and value of the relationships we have with our supplier partners”, he added.

The group gathered in Virgin Australia’s Sydney Airport lounge, with each guest having their Velocity frequent flyer cards upgraded to Pilot Gold, before departing for Melbourne on flight VA830 at 10.00am.

After enjoying private airport transfers, bags were dropped at Crown Metropol Melbourne, and lunch taken at the National Gallery’s Garden Restaurant followed by a private tour of the Terracotta Warriors.

The warriors are life-sized terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first Emperor. Thousands of the sculptures were buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose, it is said, of protecting the emperor in his afterlife. They were discovered in 1974 by local farmers.

Back at Crown Metropol, this was followed by an introduction to Crown’s sales team, and an inspection of the Crown Hotel and Entertainment Complex. Crown Hotels then generously hosted us for dinner at the superb Bistro Guillaume.

Bistro Guillaume (left) at Crown Melbourne, and Mr Hive Kitchen at Crown Metropol.

After breakfast at Mr Hive Kitchen at Crown Metropol, the group took off on a South Melbourne Markets walking and foodie tour. Since 1867, South Melbourne Market has been a treasured inner city landmark and a favourite with locals and visitors, and the tour was the perfect way to end this tiny taste of Melbourne.

“We’re really grateful to our friends at Virgin Australia and Crown Hotels for their generosity on ongoing partnership”, said The Travel Authority Group’s Managing Director, Peter Hosper.

“We’re delighted, too, to be able to engage with our clients like this. Our relationships have never been stronger”, added Hosper.

The final word goes to one of our guests:

“From start to finish, everything was seamless. David and Victor were fabulous hosts, and the selected restaurants were amazing—the service and food outstanding. I really enjoyed the “Terracotta Warrior” guided tour, just fascinating! I was impressed by the many venue spaces and meeting rooms available at Crown Hotel and Entertainment Complex. The hotel rooms, too, are very well appointed and luxurious.”

For more information, simply leave us a note in the form below, or CALL US to discuss your specific requirements.

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WE LOVE: Connected Partners

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Our business is built on deep connections with our clients, staff and our supplier partners. Some of our deepest connections lie with our technology partners who, mostly behind the scenes, super-power our offering and our people.

We were thrilled recently to bring one of those technology partners—an Australian one, no less—out from behind the scenes and into the limelight at our annual conference in Brisbane. Tramada is our engine-room, an advanced platform that streamlines our operations, data management, document production and travel accounting.

Sharon Levingston (right) overseeing the action at The Travel Authority Group conference in Brisbane, May 2019.

And we also loved it when the Tramada team popped in to visit The Travel Authority Group bearing a prize they donated to our conference, a prize that was awarded to Sharon Levingston – Head of Events at the Events Authority.

Tramada’s Country Manager, Susan Enners, and Alan McCartney, Head of Sales & Account Management, generously presented Sharon with an iPad.

“I’m so chuffed”, said Sharon Levingston.

“We’ve had a massive few weeks with our exciting win at the National Travel Industry Awards, and now this. We will put the iPad to good use. It will be a brilliant tool for presentations and for showcasing event spaces to our clients”, added Sharon.

We thank the Tramada team for their ongoing support and partnership with The Travel Authority Group.

For more information, simply leave us a note in the form below, or CALL US to discuss your specific requirements.

We’d love to hear from you.

WINNING BIG (Twice) at the National Travel Industry Awards

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We are still buzzing after being named Best Business Events Travel Agency at the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) in Sydney on 20 July in the Grand Ballroom of the International Convention Centre, Sydney.

“It’s an incredible result for our passionate team”, said Sharon Levingston, Head of Events at The Events Authority.

“We were up against some large, established operators—all terrific businesses. So, we’re thrilled to have come out on top. A lot of work goes into our awards submissions, and even more into running a great business. We’re re-energised and chuffed”, added Sharon.

The Events Authority is now a two-time winner of this prestigious award, having also won in 2017.

Jennifer Waters, Events & Travel Manager at The Events Authority with Sharon Levingston, Head of Events accepting the National Travel Industry Award.

Hosted by international award winning personality and TV journalist, Anjali Rao, the event played host to some 1,300 guests from just about every corner of the travel industry.

But the Travel Authority Group wasn’t content with winning just one category. The Travel Authority was named Best Travel Agency Corporate – Multi Location for the third time.

The Travel Authority Group’s Sarah Bush accepting the NTIA for Best Travel Agency Corporate – Multi Location.

“It was a great night for the Travel Authority Group”, said the Group’s Director, Sarah Bush.

“Sharon and her team have done a wonderful job. We’re absolutely delighted for them, and it was great to share some NTIA limelight with them in 2019”, she continued.

“The NTIA has industry wide representation and a strong history of recognising and celebrating businesses and personnel who demonstrate outstanding service, marketing excellence and business acumen within the travel industry. The event may be put on by AFTA but it is the industry who makes it a celebration to remember each and every year”, said Jayson Westbury, Chief Executive of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).

For more information, simply leave us a note in the form below, or CALL US to discuss.

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MAKING THE CUT: TTA Group Named Finalists Twice at the 2019 NTIA Awards

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We’re delighted two-times over at the news that both The Travel Authority and The Events Authority have been named finalists in the 2019 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA).

THE NTIA is run by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) and is the Australian travel industry’s premier awards program.

“We’re so pleased that The Travel Authority and The Events Authority have been recognised as two of the best travel businesses in the country”, says The Travel Authority Group’s Managing Director, Peter Hosper.

“The Events Authority truly deserves their place among the finalists. They do an amazing job, and we wish Sharon Levingston and the team all the best through the final judging process”, adds Hosper.

The awards recognise and reward excellence in the Australian travel industry, through a process which includes nominating, voting and judging candidates, culminating in the announcement of the winners at a Gala Awards Dinner.

The Travel Authority is contesting the ‘Best Travel Agency Corporate – Multi Location’ category, while The Events Authority is aiming to take out the trophy for ‘Best Business Events Travel Agency’.

Both businesses are presenting to the NTIA jury in June, before the Gala Awards Dinner takes place in Sydney on 20 July. We’ll update you on the results when they’re in.

In the meantime, wish us luck!

For more information, simply leave us a note in the form below.

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WE KNOW: How to Take the Team Away

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The entire Travel Authority Group gathered in Brisbane in May to plan, share insights, learn and celebrate 15 years of success.

The Travel Authority Group’s Managing Director, Peter Hosper, opening the conference.

“Our weekend conference is an annual affair, and this one was brilliantly organised by the team at The Events Authority. Sharon Levingston and her events team did an incredible job”, said The Travel Authority Group’s Managing Director, Peter Hosper.

Sharon Levingston (right) overseeing a planning session at the TTA Group conference.

Staff from across The Travel Authority Group flew in from Sydney, Canberra and Perth, and stayed at one of Brisbane’s hottest properties, The Calile Hotel.

The theme for the weekend was TTA TLC.

“That’s TLC for our clients, for our suppliers and, of course, for each other. After another amazing year we wanted to explore our opportunities to build on our ongoing success and refine what we do and how we do it”, explained Hosper.

The Travel Authority Group engaged the team from InteractIF to design their interactive planning sessions.

“The InteractIF guys are known for their ‘make learning sticky’ mantra. It wasn’t easy cracking 15-year-old processes and practices apart to examine them, but our sessions were spot-on, informative and great fun. Importantly, the outcomes will bring great improvement to how we operate, and how we connect with each other, our clients and our suppliers”, says Hosper.

But the weekend wasn’t all about conferencing, with the team heading out to Australia Zoo for an afternoon of team building, as well as plenty of opportunity to celebrate 15 great years of operation for The Travel Authority Group and acknowledge the efforts of the team.

Having the entire Group together was a rare treat, and we’re grateful to a number of valued sponsors who helped make it happen:

  • helloworld business travel
  • Amadeus
  • Virgin Australia
  • Air New Zealand
  • Tramada
  • Centrix
  • Crown Perth

For more information, simply leave us a note in the form below, or CALL US for a chat.

We’d love to hear from you.