House of Travel Agents Named as Awards Finalists

House of Travel Agents Named as Awards Finalists
By Fleur Revell
24 June 2014

Kiwi owned House of Travel and its agents are finalists in multiple categories at this year’s Travel Agents Association of New Zealand (TAANZ) awards.

The awards recognise excellence in the travel industry.

House of Travel is a finalist for Best Travel Agency, with its Newmarket outlet also a finalist in the Best Brand Retail – Single Location category. Also nominated in the same category were House of Travel's Ellerslie and Palmerston North (Broadway) travel agencies.

Rachel Rhind of House of Travel Johnsonville has secured a finalist spot for the Best Broker category and Kate Smyth was successful with taking her group of outlets from TeAwamutu, Morrinsville, Taupo, Hamilton City and Cambridge as award finalists in the Best Brand Retail – Multi Location category.

In addition, eight House of Travel agents were nominated across several other categories. Melanie Schonewille (Whangarei), Jenny Gauthier (Invercargill) and Tony Jackson (Newmarket) were nominated in category for Best Travel Consultant – Retail and Carol Sutton (Hamilton), Clare Jackson (Newmarket) and Dennis Payne (Orewa) were nominated in the category for Best Travel Agency Manager – Retail.

Other finalists include staff from House of Travel's corporate travel arm Orbit; Orbit Wellington is a finalist in Best Brand Corporate along with a Multi Location award for Orbit Corporate Travel. Paul Johnson from Orbit Travel is a finalist in Best Travel Consultant, with Paul Rennie, nominated for Best Travel Agency Manager.

There are 21 categories in the TAANZ awards and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Auckland in August.

House of Travel CEO Mark O’Donnell says the company is proud to have so many finalists in the awards.

“The awards recognise excellence within our industry and our company and our agents strive to provide the best deals and the best service to travel-loving Kiwis,” he says.

“Just being nominated is a great achievement and I congratulate all of our finalists and our nominees in making such a significant impact on how Kiwis see the world.”

House of Travel is New Zealand’s largest independent chain of travel agencies, founded in 1987 in Timaru.

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