Shaken but not stirred

Perth-based travel agency Martini Travel celebrated its fifth birthday on Fri, with owners Rhett and Krystal Martini inviting clients and partners along to mark the milestone achievement.

Speaking with Travel Daily yesterday, Rhett Martini said the secret of the company’s ongoing success through the challenging COVID period has been maintaining its key relationships.

“Building strong relationships with clients and suppliers has created an important loyalty and goodwill for our business, while another strength has been our diversity - we’re not a strictly corporate office or a leisure office,” he said.

While the agency has maintained a mild volume of leisure bookings during the pandemic, the company’s current strength has been its appeal with corporate travellers.

“Pre-COVID our business was roughly 70% corporate and 30% leisure, but mid-COVID has seen that split move to 95% corporate and 5% leisure,” Martini said, adding that thankfully a number of clients have come to the agency wanting to book travel in WA - predominantly associated with the mining sector.

“We’re able to give corporate clients what they need, we provide 24/7 service where they don’t get an outsourced call centre, they get myself or my wife Krystal giving them personalised client service,” Martini said.

Looking to the future, Martini Travel sees an opportunity for travel agents across the country to help travellers navigate the increasingly convoluted travel landscape emerging from the global shutdown.

“With the constant changes to borders and a massive increase in what’s required just to be allowed to get on board a plane, the services of a travel agent now more than ever are absolutely essential,” Martini said.

Pictured: Celebrations in full swing, with husband and wife owners Rhett and Krystal Martini kneeling in the front row.