Over 75 CT Partners Members and a record number of Supplier partners came together for three days at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok for the CT Partners Annual Member Meeting last week. Supported by major sponsor Singapore Airlines, the theme of ‘Connected Community’ was expressed through a mix of insightful management strategy and supplier updates, dynamic panel discussions on hot topics like sustainability, NDC and cruising, and interactive workshops.

CT Partners highlighted how Members continue to outperform the wider market, with strong business results for Q1 FY23 and momentum expected to continue into 2023, a sentiment echoed by supplier partners who reported CT Partners are up in terms of production for Q1 FY23 despite capacity constraints.

Managing Director Australia at Reed & Mackay, David Greenland, has been appointed as the new CT Partners non-executive Chair, replacing Barry Mayo who was given a moving send off by long standing Members Alan Wolf (Bay Travel), Michael Chase-Smith (Orbit World Travel) and David. They noted his three years of service as interim Chair which included navigating the Covid challenge.

With the CT Partners Board increasing to 7 Directors, progress towards broader representation for Members was made in terms of gender diversity and the type of businesses occupying seats.New Directors appointed to the Board were Anna McMurtrie – Wentworth Travel, Peter Muller, ATPI, Joe Araullo, Travel Managers and Shane Barr, TAG. They join current Board members Fiona Prosser, Globetrotter Travel, Michael Chase-Smith and Mark Chaskiel, FBI Travel.

Peter Hession, of Peter Hession Associates and the Australian New Zealand representative for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group was announced as the inaugural winner of the Ian Edwards Award. He was voted by Members as the supplier representative who best embodied the spirit, cheeky sense of humour and commitment to looking after members that the late Ian Edwards was known for during his 12 years of service as CT Partners General Manager.

Key note speaker Simon Griffiths, founder of Who Gives a Crap, detailed how doing good is good for business as it builds a strong team culture and reinforces relationships with customers. This provided another way for CT Partners Members to create a Connected Community through their businesses.

The Top Gun themed tuk-tuk safari through Bangkok brought out delegates’ competitive side and  included visits to Jim Thompson’s House, Markets and a cooking challenge, plus cocktails & massages at Baan Dusit Thani, and rooftop drinks at Siam@Siam bar.

CT Partners CEO Matt Masson said, “Our biggest Annual Member Meeting yet was all about reinforcing CT Partners’ USP as a truly Connected Community, particularly post-Covid.” “We warmly welcome our new Non-Executive Chair David Greenland and Directors, and sincerely thank our outgoing interim-Chair Barry Mayo. On behalf of all CT Partners Members, I extend heartfelt thanks to Barry for his incredibly valuable contribution to our Members, particularly during the pandemic, a time when he was also under pressure to steer his own organisation through the crisis.”

“We welcome our new Directors Anna, Peter, Joe and Shane who join Fiona, Michael and Mark on our Board which is not only more representative of all our member businesses but also pleasingly sees increased gender diversity.” “Everything we do is for our Member businesses, and our Annual Member Meeting was no exception this year, providing multiple learning opportunities and facilitating collaboration between supplier partners and industry peers on how we can best work together to achieve common goals.”

“The opportunity to see each other once more at the iconic Mandarin Oriental Bangkok was so rewarding, and I look forward to seeing more success over the next 12 months as we put the strategies and ideas we discussed into practice for our Members, their businesses and clients.”