Winning the inaugural Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers Ambassador award has inspired Mandy Shillito to work even harder to boost sales within the sector.
She was given the award at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards last week in London in recognition of her achievements over the past year.
Shillito, general manager at Miles Morgan Travel, said: “It was a massive surprise. There were lots of us nominated and anyone of us could have been a winner.
“Now I want to deliver more and grow sales for Atas members and suppliers.”
As general manager at the southwest miniple, she has grasped the opportunities presented by Atas members to develop sales of touring and adventure holidays.
As well as driving sales, she has also developed the agency chain’s marketing and training programmes to support the sector.
Marketing initiatives included an escorted touring campaign which featured a two-week TV advertising blitz on ITV1 and a new magazine dedicated to escorted tours.
She has also managed more than 60 escorted touring consumer events for Atas members in the last 12 months.
In the autumn, the chain will hold its first large touring and adventure exhibition in the southwest with 19 suppliers to further boost awareness among consumers.
Her efforts have paid dividends, with triple-digit year-on-year rises in sales with many Atas members over the first half of 2019.
“I am happy to become more involved as I am keen to give something back,” she said.
“I spread the word to others of the benefits that we have seen of attending Atas events and hope to inspire more people to get involved.
“I genuinely am passionate about escorted touring and believe there is a market for everyone.”
Attending last year’s Atas conference in Birmingham inspired her to develop the groups market in escorted tours too.
“Our potential to grow in this market is huge. We will continue to invest heavily and look for new opportunities to develop our escorted touring business,” she said.
“I am totally committed to delivering to our preferred partners and have a team of 60 who I can influence and I know will work with me to build on what we have already achieved.
“I am a great believer that anything is possible if you have the passion to win.”
Shillito is pictured collecting her award from Atas chairman Paul Melinis, flanked by Travel Weekly’s Stuart Parish and Lucy Huxley.