When it comes to retail travel, the South Island appears to be punching well above its weight, with southern agencies taking home NTIA wins including Retail Travel Agency and Retail Travel Agent of the Year.
Dunedin-based Alexandra Hannagan, of Hannagan and Greive Travel Associates won Retail Agent Of The Year—something she says still hasn’t sunk in.
The win was an emotional one, and she says it would never have happened without her team at the agency.
While she doesn’t like to boast, Hannagan admits that she puts in a lot of energy and a lot of effort to ensure her clients’ travels are one of a kind.
“When I got off the stage, I was crying; there’s so much effort and care and stress and blood, sweat and tears that go into getting an award like that, it doesn’t just come to you.” Setting her apart is the extra effort she puts in.
This includes experiences travelling in 51 countries and a subscription to Conde Nast that ensures her clients’ itineraries keep up with trends. “Condé Nast Traveler, that’s like my bible. I’m always sorting out restaurants for clients, really different places to stay, really different activities for them to do.”
. . . HoT Motueka Too
House of Travel Motueka won Retail Agency Of The Year, while its owners Linda and Jason Kroupa also took out Retail Travel Agency Managers Of The Year.
Jason Kroupa tells Travel Today the couple was surprised by the win, saying there’s so many colleagues in the industry that they look up to. “For us to be measured against those people blows my mind a bit.”
As to the secret of HoT Motueka’s success, Kroupa believes it’s the power of two. “It’s given us the time to split our roles and focus on the parts of the business that we are best at, and it gives us that chance to work on the business instead of just in the business.”
The win has taken Motueka, and the wider South Island by storm, with Kroupa saying the father of one of his consultants, in Westport, has been telling the whole town his daughter belongs to the best travel agency in New Zealand. “Everyone is just totally chuffed.”
. . . HoT, Paulsen Key
The Kroupas have also acknowledged the role HoT has played in the store’s success. Kroupa says there’s hundreds of Hotties behind the scenes all working together to make the store as efficient and effective as it is.
He also makes a special thanks to Chris Paulsen as well, who Kroupa says took them under his wing and encouraged them to open their own agency.
“Without his mentorships and his belief in us, I don’t think we would have ever thought we were capable of opening our own travel agency.”
