Sometimes a humble travel agency can play a big role in a small town and
Travel and Cruise Ceduna – which this month celebrated its 40th anniversary with a weekend worth of festivities – does just that.
Since its launch in 1985, the Travellers Choice agency has both expanded the horizons and brought together the people of Ceduna, a community of around 4,000 located on the shores of Murat Bay, just west of South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.
Tullie Seneca has managed the agency since 1997, when her parents decided to back her travel industry career and purchase the business. At the time she was just 21 years old and had less than two years' experience working in what was then known as Ceduna Travel Centre.
"It's been an honour to serve the town and in return to receive their loyalty and support," says Seneca.
"One of the best examples of that support is our escorted group tours, which we launched back in 2015. I thought our client base was going to be too small for us to get them off ground, but I've discovered that sometimes there's a better chance of success in small communities because word-of-mouth can spread so quickly.
“Over the past 10 years I've taken 20 groups to Africa, Asia and Europe, and a lot of locals say they wouldn't have travelled if it wasn't for me taking them away. Those trips have not only enriched the lives of our clients, they’ve helped forge a sense of community in Ceduna."
To mark its milestone, Seneca organised a travel expo at the Ceduna Foreshore Hotel attended by a range of suppliers, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Scenic, Journey Beyond, Collette, The Travel Corporation, The Africa Safari Co and REX Airlines.
The expo then transformed into an evening of celebration with clients, suppliers, friends, family, local business owners, and past and former staff.
“We also hosted a beach BBQ lunch the next day for all of the suppliers who had come in from out of town for the event.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to thank you to everyone who has supported us and to share memories of the many highlights we’ve enjoyed over the years.”
While it was fun to reflect on 40 successful years, Seneca says her broader focus is very much on long-term growth following her purchase earlier this year of Port Lincoln Travel and Cruise.
The long-established business – and fellow Travellers Choice member – is located four hours away in Port Lincoln, a regional centre for government services and home to a prosperous aquaculture industry.
"It's exciting to have a new market to tap into that is five times the size of Ceduna and to be working with a broad range of more than 70 corporate clients,” says Seneca.
"Also, when I took over Travel and Cruise Ceduna I was a baby and the team at Port Lincoln Travel and Cruise were my mentors, so it’s nice to now be responsible for ensuring the agency continues to thrive.”