AVIS announces top industry Awards winner

AVIS has announced the winner of what is without doubt the most relevant industry awards process with the key being Excellence in Customer Service.

Finalists in the 2006 AVIS Travel Agent Scholarship of Excellence Awards, joined industry leaders last night at Sydney’s Four Seasons Hotel for a glittering evening of celebration of the ten year Anniversary of the Awards and the announcement of the 2006 winner.

Finalists in 2006, included: –

Stephanie Musumeci, American Express, NSW;

Tracey Lees, Harvey World Travel, Albany Creek, Queensland;

Kristy Grundy, Andrew Jones Travel, Tasmania;

Kellie Shaw, FCm Travel Solutions, Victoria; and

Jessica Williamson, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Western Australia.

And the winner is…………………………………………..

Tracey Lees, Harvey World Travel, Albany Creek, Queensland

Tracey receives a prize of a seven day trip to New York for her and her partner (unusual today in the industry) flying Qantas Business Class, twin share accommodation, meals, sightseeing tours, car hire, $1,000 in American Express Foreign Exchange, coaching from Polonius Resources and ATTP Membership.

Tracey told The Mole that she was really excited and honoured with winning and was really looking forward to the visit, using it to learn and develop her career in travel, learning more about Customer Excellence as she believes that is the crucial element in travel, also making sure that customers are satisfied, because they will keep coming back.

The 10^th Anniversary celebration event also saw the winners of the AVIS 2006 AVIS Travel Agent Scholarship of Excellence Awards over ten years joining this year’s finalists and winner.

Each of the 10 year winners spoke to the guests briefly and the passion, commitment and expression of thanks from each of the winners as result of winning the Award and how it impacted on their lives was incredible, with phrases including: –

“I cleaned cars and blacked tyres in LA, worked in the call centre in Tulsa and above all became a believer in the AVIS slogan “We Try Harder” because everyone in AVIS believes in it and I do try harder as a result.”

“Winning the Award gave me a clear direction in what I wanted to do with my life.”

“The Award is very special because it is about Customer Excellence and not about driving sales, which is what other awards are all about.”

“Winning the Award gave me the confidence to buy my own business which has doubled in sales over 2 years’ – it also gave me a new confidence and springboard to the future”.

“The Award has been the highlight of my career and AVIS has set the benchmark in Customer Excellence.”

“I had an amazing year, could not have fitted anything else in and it gave me a new outlook on service excellence”.

“What this award has done for me is invaluable”.

The Mole congratulates Award organisers Russell Butler and Jenny Lorkin of AVIS for the most relevant travel industry Awards process on its tenth anniversary, with George Proos from AVIS committing to the Awards for 2007.

Long may the AVIS Travel Agent Scholarship of Excellence Awards continue!

Report by The Mole