Inspiring travel women

TRAVEL industry women (and men) from across Australia and New Zealand were inspired, thrilled and educated today at the second annual JITO Connected “Inspiring Greatness” event, held to coincide with International Women’s Day.

The day received widespread support from the industry, with major sponsors including The Travel Corporation, Abercrombie & Kent, Carnival Australia, Celebrity Cruises, Intrepid Group, nib travel insurance, Travelport and Travel Daily.

Organised around three key strands - inspiring greatness in others, inspiring greatness in yourself and education - the day was a mixture of uplifting presentations and “bootcamp style” workshops where a range of industry leaders imparted their knowledge and experience.

Host Helene Taylor from Jito Connected related her personal experience as a top level global travel industry headhunter, while Simla Sooboodoo of Hands-On Journeys related her intensely personal “Monopoly board” of highs and lows which brought her to where she is now.

Other key presenters included Magellan Travel marketing manager Michelle Kerr who is passionate about preventing trafficking of children, along with “hard skills” from APT Travel Group coo Debra Fox and Jennifer Vandekreeke, Carnival Cruise Lines vice president.

There are also plenty of networking opportunities, with the day wrapping up with celebratory drinks this afternoon.

The event included a panel discussion based on the results of the annual travelBulletin/

Travel Daily industry salary survey, with participants pictured including Travel Daily publisher Bruce Piper; Flight Centre chief operating officer Melanie Waters-Ryan; Fiona Dalton, md of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; Adam Armstrong from Celebrity Cruises; and Matthew Cameron-Smith, md of Trafalgar.

Inset: the dynamic Helene Taylor of Jito Connected with John Veitch, ceo of The Travel Corporation.

Lots more pics from the event at facebook.com/traveldaily.