House of Travel New Plymouth’s Zoe Robinson is ‘still buzzing’ after taking home Retail Rookie of the Year at the TAANZ NTIA25s.
Robinson (pictured L, with Rebecca Slee from Qantas) says she was nervous for weeks leading up to the award. “If you told me two years ago when I saw the job advertised, with my lack of travel industry experience, that I would today be working in a job I love and winning a national award I wouldn’t believe you,” she adds. Playing a significant role in her win, she says, was HoT New Plymouth owner operator Tracey Edgecombe, who not only hired her but also encouraged Robinson to enter the awards. “Our team could not be prouder of Zoe,” Edgecombe says. “Two years ago, I interviewed her and while she didn’t have any travel sales experience, she was a vivacious, people person, and her passion for customer service and travel shone through.”
. . . What’s Next
Robinson says the award will be a ‘door-opener’. “This shows me I’m on the right track to continue progressing, continue learning and build my name in an industry where I’ve finally found my niche.” Alongside career progression is more travel of course, first up the UK/Scotland later this year. “Travel is the perfect career for me. It’s hugely rewarding work to help our community travel the world, while working on ticking off my own bucket-list to Antarctica, Nepal, Bhutan and an African safari.”
