WITIA Works 2022
From the Presidents Desk
From the President’s Desk
I cannot believe that we are in the fourth quarter of 2022. Recently I have been travelling, on my first overseas trip since early 2020. Look for my special announcement in the member news section of this newsletter. In the next few weeks, our Alliance has several important meetings scheduled.
Please join us for WITIA’s Annual General Meeting, via Zoom on Friday, 18 November / Saturday 19 November 2022 (time and date dependent on your time zone). This meeting addresses the important business of our Alliance and gives members a direct voice in our association. Closer to the AGM, all WITIA members will receive an email with full details: the link and meeting times, the call for nominations and a proxy form to be filled out and returned if you are unable to attend. We encourage you to put up your hand and volunteer for a seat on our Board or Committees. As an all-volunteer organization, we need your help for the Alliance to move forward and grow.
Fiona Gordon has recently resigned from her role as WITIA Director of Communications. I would sincerely like to thank Fiona on behalf of the Board and WITIA members, for her efforts and support of WITIA which are truly appreciated.
In this edition of WITIA Works, we have lots of member news. Congratulations to our members who have received awards and new appointments over the past few months.
Warmest regards,
Leah Gage
President
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Member Spotlight
Yadis Travels and Tours Ltd
Yewande Adibe
I attended the famous Igbobi Girls’ High School Lagos where I bagged my 2nd school leaving certificate. I also attended the University of Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Nigeria, and graduated with honours in Business Administration and management science. In 2001, while undergoing my undergraduate studies, I was involved in a ghastly motor accident that claimed the lives of many. I was lucky to survive and was in a coma for 2 weeks until I experienced a miraculous recovery that altered the course of my life.
I worked as a banker in Maiduguri but had to resign due to the conflicts going on then. relocated with my family to Abuja where I work currently as a civil servant in the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria which was set up principally to offer free legal services to indigent citizens.
My career with the Legal Aid Council blossomed and I am presently a Principal Administrative Officer. My job allowed me to pursue other passions especially in travel and tours industry. In 2017, I established Yadis Travels and Tours ltd and have pursued my passion since then. I love meeting people, visiting new places and expanding my horizon. I am currently married with three children.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
By Carmel Thompson
WITIA Director of Professional Development
Dear WITIA Colleagues
There are plenty of people out there who are wanting to travel but lots of things have changed since 2019. You, as industry professionals, will have to continue to up-skill in order to stay ahead of the curve.
Here are some suggestions of different categories of tourism you might consider both as a travel agent and as a traveller. I hope it is of interest.
TOURISM IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
The situation for tourism remains rather unusual as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has marked a significant change for everyone, and above all for tourism, one of the sectors hit hardest by the virus.
2020 was the year in which international tourism came to a near-complete standstill, and the only alternatives were domestic and local tourism.
2021 saw some improvements, but only in very subtle ways as restrictions were still in place and many countries kept their borders fully or partially closed.
2022 is still an unknown regarding how the pandemic will evolve. However, many more countries are opening their borders yet some restrictions still apply. So, let’s talk about the new tourism trends that are likely to emerge over the coming year:
– International travel with restrictions still maintained by both destinations and airlines in order to offer enhanced security to the consumer.
– Reinforcement of COVID-19 testing; two years after the pandemic COVID testing will still be in place in some countries as a preventive measure.
– Conscious travel will be advocated. Travel to more distant destinations, but with prolonged durations of stay, as consumers look to enjoy as much of each place they visit as possible.
– Green travel. Climate change is a problem that is present and growing. Consumers now are much more responsible and aware of the reality they live in on a daily basis.
– A new trend is the “ed-ventures”. It is about combining education and holidays for the youngest members of the family.
Check Out : HOW TO SURVIVE, GROW AND PROSPER GOING FORWARD:10 Post pandemic travel trends (extract from article by Maria Eduarda POSSAMAI 29 July 2022)
https://www.trekksoft.com/en/blog/post-pandemic-travel-trends-how-travelers-choose-tours-in-2022
Try new things, keep learning and have fun!!
Carmel
WITIA Director – Professional Development
WITIA Announcements
Member News
SURPRISE!
OUR PRESIDENT ELOPES
The reason WITIA President Leah has been AWOL is that Leah and her partner of 9 years, Robert Gibson, eloped to have a special ceremony at Tavoro Waterfalls in Bouma National Heritage Park on the Garden Island of Taveuni in Fiji. We wish Leah and Robert many years of good health, happiness, and lots of travel.
WITIA members at the Hollywood Bowl in LA
WITIA members Bart Lynn & Beverley Auerbach were guests of WITIA members Loreen Wilson and Jerry Jacobs at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for a picnic dinner and a performance of “Kinky Boots” on July 9th.
These two couples have frequently travelled together on WITIA Educationals, including to Beijing, Costa Rica, Nairobi and Sri Lanka.
Prior to WITIA’s inception, Loreen was a frequent participant on FAM trips that Beverley led to various places in Asia.
WITIA members on tour in Queensland Australia
WITIA members from Sydney NSW, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba in Queensland, joined In2 Travel Australia’s Christmas in July tour in the southern downs region of Queensland Australia. Tour participants enjoyed visiting the Granite Belt Christmas Tree Farm and a trip on the historic Southern Downs Steam Railway. Tour accommodation was in a former convent – The Abbey Boutique Hotel, which provided a fabulous Christmas in July Celebration Dinner “with all the trimmings”.
WITIA Members on Tour in South Australia
President Leah, In2 Travel Australia, has us all travelling again. This time WITIA members from the Gold Coast, Queensland, and Sydney, NSW, have enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Murray River, the major wine areas of South Australia and Kangaroo Island.
Eleven travellers enjoyed a couple of nights aboard the paddle wheeler, PS Murray Princess. Following the nights on the Murray River the group increased to 24 and set off on the South Australian Heritage Food and Wine tour. They enjoyed the picturesque Clare Valley, the famous Barossa Valley and the rolling hills of McLaren Vale, all famous wine regions of South Australia.
There were many memorable wine tastings and food experiences, including a visit to Australian culinary icon, Maggie Beer’s farm and a strudel making class in the German inspired village of Hahndorf. The farewell dinner in the seaside suburb of Glenelg provided the perfect opportunity for the group to meet WITIA member Caroline Densley from Diverse Travel.
At the conclusion of the main tour an intrepid band of 14 took the time to explore Kangaroo Island, one of Australia’s finest nature-based tourism destinations and one of Australia’s National Landscapes.
CONGRATULATIONS
Celebrations on the Gold Coast
for WITIA Life Member
WITIA Founding Director and Life Member, Cavell Dorman, celebrated a significant “0” birthday recently with family and WITIA friends at the home of WITIA members, Beryl and Don Ley.
Pictured with WITIA Founders and WITIA Life Members – from left, Anne Isaacson, Beryl Ley, Cavell Dorman and Sue Holloway.
The beautiful cake was the work of WITIA member, Michele Hulse.
Best Wishes To our Gold Sponsor
Eileen and Max Mellor, owners of Worldwide …….more than just print, Bundall, Gold Coast, Australia, have been a WITIA Gold Sponsor since 2006. They have had a close and generous association with WITIA and now have headed off into retirement to enjoy life and travel the world.
We thank them for their many years of loyalty to WITIA and we especially value our close association and friendship with this special couple.
We wish them many exciting years of travelling and a very happy and healthy retirement.
Best Wishes to Sose Annandale
SINALEI REEF AND SPA RESORT, SAMOA
We send best wishes to WITIA Foundation Member, Sose Annandale, General Manager of her family owned, Sinalei Reef and Spa Resort, Samoa, on the announcement of her retirement from the industry.
Sose has moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and pursuing a career in the health sector, something she has wanted to do for a long time. We wish her well in all future endeavors.
A message from Sose to her WITIA Friends
“It has been a pleasure meeting all you lovely ladies at our resort a few years ago and congratulate you all on your continued work in bringing together women from around the globe to share their knowledge and expertise for the betterment of the Tourism/Travel Industry. Thank you also for your friendships.
All the best and kindest regards, soifua, Sose Annandale”
Retirement of Nicole Smith-MacGregor
It is with great emotion that we celebrated in a rural and intimate way the retirement of Nicole after 20 years of work in the Tourism department at the SDÉCB. Its mission has been to promote the destination British Columbia in French and to identify and promote tourismbusinesses that offer services in French.
Over the years, she has created and enriched the content of the Bienvenue en Colombie-Britannique website, the Directory of French-language services , blog posts, tours and tourist guides in French and collaborated with various tour operators and travel agencies.
We thank her from the bottom of our hearts for her investment and wish her a wonderful retirement.
WITIA MEMBER – Arwen McGregor from Devon Pixies
Congratulations to WITIA Member, Arwen McGregor from Devon Pixies Tea House, being announced as one of the Best of Queensland Experiences for 2022 by Tourism and Events Queensland.
The program is based on an independent set of criteria that incorporates online customer reviews, responds to consumer expectations, and reflects industry best practice.
WITIA members and friends recently experienced Arwen’s hospitality when they visited Devon Pixies en route to Warwick and Stanthorpe for Christmas in July weekend with President Leah’s In2TravelAustralia.
Congratulations to WITIA Membership Director
Priscilla M Wellington Assante
Priscilla M. Wellington appointed Lead Marketing Partner of iSubsahara magazine in Ghana
MESSAGE FROM WITIA HONORARY MEMBER
KUSHIL GUNASEKERA, FOUNDER OF FOUNDATION OF GOODNESS
July was a turbulent month for Sri Lanka with the economic crisis deepening and sinking more rural communities into poverty.
To read more, please follow the link and learn of the crisis relief projects and how we can help.
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