2012 Winner
2012 Scholarship Winner: Bettiann Gain
01 November 2012: MTA Travel consultant Bettiann Gain is the newest member of the travel industry’s most exclusive club after being named the 2012 recipient of the Avis Travel Agent Scholarship.
“Finding out that I was a finalist for the 2012 Avis Travel Agent Scholarship was a wonderful moment in both my personal and professional life.
There is undoubtedly a great sense of achievement in being chosen as a finalist for a program that has over the years encouraged and rewarded so many talented travel consultants.
As part of the judging process I was lucky enough to subsequently spend time with other finalists, talk with sponsors, meet a range of travel industry leaders and mix with former winners, all of whom I found inspiring.
To then hear my name read out at the 2012 winner was what I could only describe as a surreal and momentous experience.
Over the past 12 months I’ve tried to make the most of the wonderful opportunities afforded me as a winner. I’ve travelled in style, grown professionally through training and mentoring, and gained a deeper insight into our industry. It has been an experience I will certainly cherish forever.
If you are truly enthusiastic about delivering customer service then put yourself forward for this award in 2013. You have nothing to lose and – like me – so much to gain.
I wish you the best of luck.”
Queensland-based Bettiann was officially announced as this year’s winner at a ceremony held last night at Sydney’s Four Seasons Hotel. She becomes only the 16th recipient of the annual award, which recognises and rewards travel agents committed to the highest standards of customer service.
The 2012 Scholarship is valued at more than $40,000, with Gain receiving:
- two Qantas Business Class return tickets to New York
- six nights’ luxury hotel accommodation in Manhattan
- seven days’ car rental from Avis
- a first-year tourism scholarship to study at Southern Cross University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, with financial support of up to $10,000 towards the first year of a three-year Bachelor of Tourism Management course
- four cruise training modules from the International Cruise Council Australasia
- a Polonious Resources Personal Profile, Feedback Session and on-call personal/professional coaching for 12 months
- admission into the TIME (Travel Industry Mentor Experience) mentoring program
- a one-year honorary position on the Avis Travel Agents Advisory Board
- a tour of Avis’ World Headquarters in New Jersey and site visits to US travel agencies.
Avis Travel Industry Manager Russell Butler said Bettiann demonstrated three key attributes essential to any advocate of excellent customer service.
“Bettiann shows enormous empathy towards her clients, she takes personal responsibility for every aspect of their journey and she is both determined and highly-creative when it comes to overcoming problems,” said Butler.
“The Scholarship judging panel were also impressed by her desire to embrace the career development opportunities provided by the Avis Scholarship in order to continue expanding her knowledge and skills.”
The 2012 winner was chosen from five finalists, all of whom presented to members of the Avis Travel Agents Advisory Board during yesterday’s final judging session in Sydney.
This year’s finalists included:
- Jennifer Anderseck, American Express Business Travel (Victoria)
- Leanne McGovern, MTA Travel (Queensland)
- Marica Salpietro, Peregrine Adventures (Retail) (Victoria)
- Illaina Van Veen, Corporate Traveller (Queensland)