What would make a dozen busy travel consultants trek half-way across the country – at their own expense – to volunteer at a consumer travel show in Canberra?
In a word, friendship… the kind forged through membership of an award-winning travel network renowned for its ‘all for one, and one for all’ ethos.
The travel show in question was the second annual Epic Travel Expo, which recently attracted more than 4,000 visitors to Canberra’s Coorong Pavilion, along with 70 suppliers, three food trucks and two display vehicles from Langley’s Coaches and Outback Spirit.
Among them was Kathy Granger from Burnie Travelcentre in Tasmania, who flew up to Canberra via Melbourne, where she picked up Boomerang Travel Centre’s Debi Kitt, who had driven 200km to Victoria’s capital from Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley.
Like many of the other volunteers, the two agents helped set up/pull down the event, directed visitors and manned booths when suppliers were called to give presentations.
“It was wonderful to see our friends as we got the show ready, but the minute the doors opened I didn't time have to talk to anyone but the punters,” says Granger. “But that was fine because I can talk travel all day, so I was in my element.”
Zoe Eagleton from Riverland Travel in the New South Wales town of Maclean, helped out at the event’s theatre, where more than 500 visitors put on headsets to hear one of 24 ‘silent presentations’ by suppliers. She and her entire team flew to Canberra a couple of days ahead of the event to “make a team weekend of it”.
“We visited Floriade, enjoyed massages and even did some glass blowing,” Eagleton says. “We also used it as a training opportunity for the team because being a regional agency we don’t always get to see some suppliers. It was the first time we were able to see the coaches used by Langley’s and Outback Spirit.
"I’ve already plugged it back into calendar for next year."
Michelle Barker from EMBARK travel in Newcastle helped raise funds for Bong Bong – the rescued moon bear Travellers Choice sponsors at Animal Asia’s sanctuary in north Vietnam – by running a chocolate wheel and a luggage stand.
She says it was extraordinary to see so many Travellers Choice agencies coming together to pull off such a professional event.
"You just can't replicate the kind of culture that makes something like that possible,” says Barker. “Everyone helps without expectation and because it's just great seeing your friends succeed. Plus, I got a free T-shirt. I would help them out again in a heartbeat."
Granger says that “on a micro level” she wanted to help “out of respect for my friends and the sense of camaraderie you feel when you all pitch in together. But in terms of the bigger picture, it's just the Travellers Choice way.”
Kitt, who has been a member of multiple consortia over the years, says she simply can’t imagine another group supporting each other in such a way.
“Travellers Choice is like a family in which members work together, rather than compete. And I know I could call any of them for help.”
It’s a sentiment Jamison Travel Director Michelle Everson echoes.
“We were overwhelmed by the level of demand last year, and we knew this year would be even bigger, so receiving support from experienced colleagues meant we were able to deliver a much better experience for everyone involved,” says Everson.
“We didn’t put out anything asking other members to come along, they just volunteered. It really distilled the whole culture of Travellers Choice into a single day.”
Travellers Choice members will meet in Melbourne this week for the Company’s 2025 Conference – a three-day event offering panel discussions, networking sessions and a range of keynote speakers, along with a Preferred Supplier Exhibition and the Travellers Choice National Awards Gala Dinner.