Wanderlust Travel Experts, which now has 50 members in just over a year of operation, is being flagged as an industry success story by both agents and suppliers at this year’s GTN conference, which started in Brisbane today.
Headed up by Cath McLeod, Wanderlust has attracted brokers from across the sector and the brand’s rapid growth has far surpassed its initial growth targets. “As a result we’ve had to expedite our strategic growth plans,” she says. This includes having to fast-track additional support staff and resources in a bid to ensure that the growth is sustainable and that the brand is offering the same level of support, says McLeod. There are 40-plus Wanderlust members at the GTN event, including a high number who have not met before. “Yes, we have more members than expected which is great, but Wanderlust is not just about numbers. Creating a travel community and a supportive culture is key to our operational model, so to see members meeting and sharing stories is also a measure of success for us.”
. . . Efficiencies
While Wanderlust and its leisure business has arguably brought a higher level of supplier interest in the GTN offering, McLeod says GTN has proved a selling point.“The fares and ticketing support we receive from GTN has very quickly become a key part of our offering, along with the support from our support office including finance, admin, marketing and business mentoring,” she adds. McLeod says, for example, many members who used to self-write tickets are now using their time to sell travel, while GTN sorts the consolidation. “We’ve seen a growing number of members increasing efficiencies by using GTN’s Kiwi-based team.” Straight-talker and GTN co-founder Rob Beecher, believes the brand will continue to grow. “Cath has done an amazing job in building the brand in record time. She is an exceptional operator and very good at what she does—the fact that she has so many brokers knocking on the door is testament to her expertise in the broker space.” While reiterating that the focus is on attracting the right members, not numbers, McLeod says Wanderlust has a ‘very strong pipeline for Sep and Oct’. “We aren’t going out and approaching people but our members are proving our best advocates—and I’m humbled by the support and faith that our growing number of members have placed in Wanderlust.”
