Picture: Naome Burdon (second from left) with fellow directors of the 2024 Travellers Choice board
Q: Congratulations on joining the board of directors at Travellers Choice. What do you hope to bring to the table?
A: First let me say what an honour it is to be voted on to the Board by my fellow Travellers Choice members.
Our company has benefited over the past decade from an exceptionally stable and talented Board. I’m looking forward to bringing fresh eyes and enthusiasm to ensure the company continues to build on its success and applies its past learnings to identify and seize forward opportunities.
From a personal perspective, during COVID I completed a Diploma in Leadership and Management and part of that involved learning about corporate governance and board responsibility, so I’m excited to now be a position to apply that knowledge in my professional career.
Q: TC seems to be going from strength to strength. What is the secret of its success?
A: I think our secret is three things: collaboration, authenticity and accessibility.
Travellers Choice members collaborate and support each other in a way I think is unique in our industry.
As a company and as independent agents, we integrate automation and technology into our work processes, but never without losing focus on our clients.
And finally, it’s as easy to connect with our Managing Director and every one of our corporate office staff as it is to connect with another Travellers Choice member. That accessibility and transparency is integral to our culture.
Q: You have more than 30 years’ experience in the travel industry. What are some of the biggest changes, good and bad, that you’ve seen in that time?
A: The biggest change, as you’d imagine, has been around advances in technology. I enjoy change and in general see it as a positive in life; something we should embrace.
So, I’ve enjoyed using those advances in technology to benefit my clients and my business.
Travellers Choice is certainly aligned to that thinking, which is why it has consistently embraced new technology to enhance the support it offers members.
At the same time, I think as an industry we have to be wary about becoming so automated that we forego opportunities to create bespoke itineraries tailored for our individual clients.
That’s something I try and remain focused on, while still benefiting from the efficiencies that technology brings.
Q: How do you think the travel industry is looking as we approach the end of another year?
A: I think it’s a really exciting time and the future is very positive.
Demand for qualified travel services is strong and if we stay ahead of the trends, while ensuring our relationships with clients remain our primary focus, then travellers will continue to seek out agents who have a solid reputation and proven tenure.
Q: What is it about the travel industry that you love so much and that keeps you motivated?
A: What I love most is the way the travel industry encourages my love of learning.
I love researching new products, tours, services and destinations. And when I learn about new or innovative things, almost immediately clients come to mind who I think would get the most out of those experiences.
Q: What plans do you have for the future of Argyle Travel and Cruise?
A: We are going to keep doing what we are doing well and we are going to build and grow further.
All four of our team members are equally focused on client relationships and the success of their roles in the business. In that sense, our team are members in our business, in the way we are members of Travellers Choice. Collaboration is our mantra.
Also, we are going to continuing to nurture strong bonds with our local communities.
Our focus on providing sponsorships and contributing to local charities allows us to operate a work-from-home business model while still being really well known and active in our local communities.
Q: Finally, do you have any exciting travel plans for 2025 that you can share with us?
A: I’m going to South Africa for the first time on a famil with The Africa Safari Co. in February and then in July I’m ticking off something that has been top of my bucket list, which is a trip to Machu Picchu with my teenage daughter!”
