Being named the TAANZ NTIA25 Retail Agent Manager of the Year was unexpected, but very much welcomed, says Michael Cory-Toussaint of Toussaint and Turner Travel Associates.
“It was very exciting, but also very unexpected, and I’m very blown away,” Cory-Toussaint told Travel Today. He attributes the win to the team he works with. “They keep me accountable, they try new things for me; they are the main reason I do what I do.” There’s also two people Cory- Toussaint is very keen to thank. That’s Gemma Woodruff, who was his team leader when he was at Flight Centre, and who he says was ‘a massive influence’ on how he works; and Ashleigh Teixeira, Travel Associates head of operations, is who Cory-Toussaint says is probably one of the biggest influences on the success of the store, and the success of himself, too. “I think it’s a lot to do with other people and their support; there’s no way I’d be able to do what I achieved on my own.”
. . . Advice
As for what it takes to become the retail travel manager of the year, Cory-Toussaint says it’s about building the right foundations, finding a good team and leading from the front. “It’s also being, like, really, involved, making sure everyone is okay and also always being open to feedback, not only from higher ups but also from your team as well, because they support you for the goals you have for the store. So I personally feel I should support them as well and what they want to do.” His final piece of advice is to ‘stay true to you’. “I see my biggest success when I’ve actually stayed true to who I am as a person rather than what everyone else kind of expects from me, and that’s how I run this store as well.”
