TAMMY MARSHALL

CHOOSE a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. They’re wise words and ones that Tammy Marshall delivers with confidence. Throwing in the towel as a chartered accountant many years ago, Marshall opted to pursue a career in tourism after learning how to ski during a six month stint abroad. The trip was a game changer for Marshall that saw her take up ski guiding with a large conglomerate and pick up skills across the entire supply chain. With a natural talent for business and numbers, Marshall quickly proved her worth, becoming sales manager, Queensland state manager and eventually general manager. After 14 years with the company, Marshall was put forward for the role of Australian managing director role of Contiki, stepping in at a time when the brand was hemorrhaging revenue and in dire need of a shake up. Marshall added destinations and leveraged heavily off social media channels to breathe new life into the brand, ultimately doubling the size of Contiki and giving it legs for the future. When the global managing director role at AAT Kings became available, Marshall was quick to put her hand up, seizing the opportunity to run a global business with a full fleet of coaches. Stepping into the role when the currency turned against the industry, she remembers it as a challenging time that threw her in the deep end. But the highlight, she says, was building the off-road coach touring brand Inspiring Journeys from a blank canvas. “How many times do you get to create something new and exciting from scratch? It is still one of my proudest moments - I suppose it’s my legacy from my time with AAT Kings,” she tells travelbulletin. Not one to rest on her laurels, Marshall was again quick to act when the position with P&O surfaced. Having never boarded a cruise ship, it wasn’t so much the act of cruising that attracted her to the role; it was the potential for growth at a time where the industry is set to push one million annual travellers in Australia. “Cruising is the sweet spot in the tourism industry and there are so many dimensions to it. The way I see it, I’m sitting in the best seat in the house as far as tourism goes,” she says. Just over two years in the role, she has led some dramatic changes. For one, she has shaken up the advertising space to take the focus away from images of deck chairs and one-dimensional maps, and turned the spotlight to people and passengers. The Earthlings campaign, for instance, couldn’t be further from the norm; it’s brave, edgy and it tackles a new approach that’s far removed from the days of old. Marshall admits that it has unsettled some of P&O’S loyal customers, but the way she sees it, there’s no other way. “I’m a change agent; I reinvent and refresh brands which is crucial to remain relevant. What got you there won’t keep you there, so it’s a matter of constantly evolving and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” she says. With a career spanning 25 years in the tourism industry, Marshall has seen her share of sketchy balance sheets, but she considers staffing to be the biggest challenge. Having inherited some “tough” teams throughout her career, she doesn’t dance around the issue. “The biggest challenge leading a business is getting the right people on the bus. Performance takes a blow if you let it continue so you need to shake it up and act quickly,” she says. While stress comes with any high profile position, Marshall says letting go of factors that are out of her control helps her to sleep at night. But with an outgoing personality and a relaxed outlook on life, it’s her social life that keeps her going. “I have a busy social life and travel a lot when I can. Sure, I probably work too many hours, but I live life to its fullest. But then again, I don’t have kids, so that probably helps,” she quips.

I’m a change agent, I reinvent and refresh brands which is crucial to remain relevant. What got you there won’t keep you there...’

On the perceived glass ceiling in travel, Marshall says there is certainly an imbalance, but she’s also confident the industry is at tipping point and more women are stepping up to the plate. “We’re at an exciting time in terms of gender balance, but women need to learn a few tips,” she says. “Men are good at networking but women tend to spend less time building relationships which will drive their career path. They need to be braver and back themselves.” Looking back on her career, the one thing that Marshall would have told her younger self is to always keep your eye on the future and do what you love: “You need to be passionate about what you’re doing and step out of the comfortable zone. Don’t sit still, keep moving.”