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STA Travel Named New Zealand’s Best Travel Agency Group 2012
11 September 2012
STA Travel Named New Zealand’s Best Travel Agency Group 2012
STA Travel has taken home the top prize at the New Zealand Travel Industry Awards, being named the Best Travel Agency Group for 2012.
The inaugural award ceremony was hosted at a Gala Dinner at Auckland’s Langham Hotel on Saturday night, recognising all aspects of the travel and tourism industries.
Thirty awards were given out on the night, including Best Travel Agent, Best Domestic Airline, Best Tour Operator, Best Tourist Office and Best International Hotel Resort.
STA Travel New Zealand General Manager Andrew Gay said: “It is a tremendous honour to be recognised by the independent judging panel as New Zealand’s Best Travel Agency Group. It is wonderful recognition for the uniqueness of the STA Travel product and services offering, and fair reward for what is a very dedicated team of young professionals and travellers from all corners of the world”.
Finalists were announced on 31 July, after a five-week voting period which brought in more than 1200 votes from the travel industry.
Finalists had to give a presentation to a panel of seven judges, where they were judged on company performance, success, customer service and satisfaction, effective marketing campaigns, creativity, innovation and their corporate social responsibility efforts.
KMPG partner Tony McNaught, one of the independent judges, said he was particularly impressed with how STA Travel’s targeted their niche audience.
“They’re not trying to be all things to all people, for example targeting the working holiday and volunteering market, and they’ve done it very well,” he said.
He said STA Travel used the global recession to their advantage and “demonstrated evidence of being able to adapt to change marketing conditions as well as a very thorough planning process”.
STA Travel is the world’s leading travel company for students and young people. Founded in 1979, there are currently more than 1,800 employees or agents across 12 countries with franchise and licensed partners in a further 49 countries. There are 14 retail locations throughout New Zealand, in addition to a National Call Centre and a very strong online presence.
The full Awards
list can be viewed at www.nztravelindustryawards.co.nz
www.statravel.co.nz
ENDS
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