Luxury – MTA – Mobile Travel Agents

MTA takes home the double at the NTIAs 2025

Kerryn Taylor — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 01:01:42 +0000

We’re thrilled that MTA – Mobile Travel Agents took home two major awards at the 2025 National Travel Industry Awards, held in Brisbane over the weekend.

🏆 Most Outstanding Mobile Travel Network
🏆 Most Outstanding Mobile Travel Advisor – Alison McGovern

Winning Most Outstanding Mobile Travel Network is an incredible honour and recognition of the people who make MTA what it is – our dedicated advisors, passionate support team, valued suppliers, and loyal clients.

We’re equally proud of Alison McGovern, who was named Most Outstanding Mobile Travel Advisor – marking the third consecutive year that an MTA advisor has received this title, following Wendy Brockbank (2023) and Donna Jones (2024).

“This double win is a testament to the strength of our community and the calibre of the people who choose to be part of MTA,” said Karen Merricks, Managing Director. “We’re incredibly proud of Alison and every one of our advisors who continue to embody what MTA stands for – excellence, independence, and a genuine passion for creating extraordinary travel experiences.”

A huge thank you to our incredible MTA family, our industry partners, and our clients who inspire us every day to keep raising the bar.

Donna Jones named Virtuoso ‘Most Admired Advisor – Australasia’

Kerryn Taylor — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 23:30:12 +0000

This week, we’re raising a glass at MTA – Mobile Travel Agents as we celebrate one of our own. Donna Jones, an MTA Advisor based in Shell Cove, has been named Most Admired Advisor – Australasia at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas – one of the biggest honours in the world of luxury travel.

This incredible recognition comes hot on the heels of Donna’s success at the 2024 NTIAs, where she was named Most Outstanding Mobile/Home-Based Advisor. Two major industry accolades in just a few short months.

Virtuoso Travel Week is held every year in Las Vegas and is widely regarded as the event for luxury travel, drawing thousands of advisors, suppliers and industry leaders from every corner of the globe. To be recognised on that stage is an extraordinary achievement.

Donna shared that the award is as much about the people around her as it is about her own work:

“It’s an incredible honour to be recognised on such a respected international stage. Being part of the MTA family has given me the support, flexibility and global network to deliver the very best experiences for my clients – and I couldn’t be more thrilled to receive this award.”

Our Co-Founder, Roy Merricks, couldn’t be prouder:

“Donna is an outstanding advisor whose dedication to her clients and commitment to excellence embodies everything we value at MTA. This award reinforces the global respect for our advisors and the impact they’re making in the luxury travel space.”

At MTA, we believe in giving our advisors the freedom, tools and community to shine – and Donna’s success is a perfect example of what’s possible when passion meets support.

Congratulations Donna – we’re so proud to have you as part of the MTA family!

Dynamic Duos: MTA Advisors and their Executive Assistants making magic happen

Kerryn Taylor — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 04:29:00 +0000

Dynamic Duos: MTA Advisors and their Executive Assistants making magic happen

Success in travel isn’t just about expertise—it’s about the right support. For MTA Platinum Elite advisor Wendy Summerlin, working with MTA Executive Assistant Julia Bond has transformed her business, streamlining operations and enhancing work-life balance.

For MTA advisors, success is more than expertise in travel—it’s about having the right support to manage client demands, grow their business, and maintain work-life balance. MTA understands that thriving in today’s industry requires more than just technology and supplier relationships; it requires real, human support.

That’s why MTA’s Executive Assistance team is an invaluable resource, providing dedicated operational support at no additional cost to Platinum Elite advisors.

For MTA Platinum Elite advisor Wendy Summerlin, her partnership with MTA Executive Assistant Julia Bond has been nothing short of transformative.

A Game-Changer for Work-Life Balance

MTA Platinum Elite advisor Wendy Summerlin travelling with her husband.

For Wendy, having Julia as part of MTA’s Executive Assistance team has completely redefined how she manages her workload.

“Where do I start with that? Invaluable. Having Julia has changed the number of hours I work, and without this, I would have no work-life balance,” Wendy shares. “But more than that, she provides another set of competent eyes on my work—someone to share decisions with. I love it.”

Having a trusted partner to share the load means Wendy can focus on what she does best: creating incredible travel experiences for her clients.

Systems That Drive Success

Behind every well-run business is a well-structured system. Wendy and Julia have developed a refined, organised workflow to keep everything on track.

“Julia has an efficient task list she updates daily, adding and removing as needed. It’s colour-coded by priority, which keeps everything crystal clear. With this level of organisation, nothing falls through the cracks, ensuring a seamless experience for me and my clients.”

For Julia, stepping in to support Wendy and her clients has been a process of learning and adapting.

“Since July 2023, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about Wendy, her business, clients, and preferences, allowing me to support her effectively. Every Platinum Elite is unique, and building trust and systems takes time and effective communication.” Julia shares. “The better the communication and teamwork, the better the outcome. When both parties embrace feedback and growth, the results are exceptional!”

Building Trust Through Communication

Julia at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Trust is essential in any working relationship, and Julia acknowledges that open and respectful communication is the backbone of their collaboration.

“The backbone to building trust is open and respectful communication. This has allowed me to get to know Wendy and how she operates, as well as getting to know her expectations and the expectations of her clients.”

Wendy echoes this, explaining that trust was her biggest concern at the start.

“Trust—that’s it. It was hard to let go at first, but now? No problem. Her work is great. She has strengths, and I have mine. Lucky for me, she’s strong where I am not!”

Going Beyond the Job Description

Wendy dining with her husband.

True support means stepping up when it matters most. For Wendy, one moment stands out as an example of Julia’s dedication and commitment.

“I had been working on this tricky booking for weeks. Julia was right there with me, keeping track of every update. While I was away, she was emailing me with progress, determined to have it wrapped up before I got home. Due to changes on the client’s side, it wasn’t possible—but Julia gave it everything she had to try and make it happen. That’s the kind of dedication she brings.”

For Julia, the reward is knowing she’s making a tangible difference in Wendy’s business and personal well-being.

“I love knowing my work makes a difference—that Wendy has better work-life balance because of it. Being an extra resource and a second pair of eyes for her is truly rewarding.”

A Unique Support Model That Sets MTA Apart

MTA’s Executive Assistance program is more than just an administrative service—it’s part of the company’s broader philosophy of ensuring advisors feel fully supported in every aspect of their business.

“MTA differs in their approach because they invest in areas where advisors need the most support. They understand the evolving travel industry and set new standards for service. Even though our advisors work remotely, they’re never alone—they have an entire head office team supporting them.”

From famil leave coverage to ongoing business support, the Executive Assistance team ensures that advisors can take time off when needed, maintain client service excellence, and continue growing their businesses without sacrificing personal well-being.

A Travel Essential You Can’t Pack

Wendy and her husband getting ready for an adventure.

When asked about the one thing she can’t travel without, Wendy didn’t hesitate: “Julia!”

For advisors at MTA, the support doesn’t stop at booking systems and supplier contracts—it’s about real, human support that allows them to do their best work. And for advisors like Wendy, having an Executive Assistant like Julia makes all the difference.

From day one, all MTA Advisors have access to the Travel Assistance team at no additional cost. Whether they’re away on a famil, taking well-earned leave, or recovering from illness, this team provides essential support and is one of MTA’s unique service offerings.

For Platinum Elite Advisors, this support goes even further with the Executive Assistance Team, offering up to 20 hours per week of dedicated assistance from an experienced in-house travel advisor, helping them manage their workload, enhance client service and importantly to maintain a better work-life balance.

For more information, visit mtatravel.com.au/joinus.

Celebrating 25 years of MTA-Mobile Travel Agents

Kerryn Taylor — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:26:42 +0000

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents celebrates 25th anniversary today: Founders Karen & Roy Merricks interview

Once dismissed as “hobbyists”, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents has proven the doubters spectacularly wrong. As the company celebrates its 25th anniversary (today, to be precise), a significant number of its advisors are earning well into the six figures, with some reaching even greater heights, according to MTA Co-Managing Director, Owner, and travel industry legend Karen Merricks. Not bad for a so-called side hustle.

“Some of them were earning $25,000 a year, working full-time in a retail agency. Then, after joining MTA, many quickly realised $100-150,000 – and then that income exploded over the years… depending on their time and lifestyle,” Merricks tells me in an interview on the eve of the big occasion.

“Our platinum agents – there are now over 90 of them – are earning really big incomes.”

When reflecting on the birth and rise of MTA – Mobile Travel Agents, Merricks looks back like one would on the growth of a family – with much pride.

“It’s been a quarter of a century, but it seems like yesterday when we launched,” she remarks.

“We set out to have a company that values people and family… and I feel we’ve created that – a business that upholds family values and a company full of the most amazing people.”

It’s a family affair

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents 2024 national conference attendees in Fiji. (Image Mark Harada)

At the 2024 MTA – Mobile Travel Agents national conference in Fiji, I was struck by the genuine warmth and camaraderie within the organisation – it felt like one big travel family. It’s an atmosphere I expect will endure.

“We really love being together and catching up. I am so proud of MTA and the people we have around us,” Karen explains.

“All of our head office team, our brilliant advisors and our supplier connections.”

With Merricks experiencing a difficult few months late last year on a personal level (Karen lost her beloved sister to bowel cancer in 2024), she stresses how important it is to “hold those we love close and cherish our time together”.

“I don’t feel business should be any different,” Merricks says.

“It’s about caring support and enjoying the ups and downs of life.”

MTA for mums

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents Platinum advisor group in Hobart.

Merricks, together with husband and business partner Roy, started MTA as a way to help women – especially those with children – undertake a more fulfilling journey in the travel industry. They also wanted to support women in rejoining the workforce. And it stemmed from Karen’s own experiences.

“Flexible hours was a big issue. You don’t want to miss out on kids’ events, like Christmas plays and sports carnivals,” Karen says.

“So I needed access remotely to my own GDS system, not through the office where I had to keep calling to go and do my work, which was a half-hour drive for me just to go and book a domestic ticket. That just wasn’t workable.

“I wanted to be able to work from a home office; do my work when I wanted… and then be able to get the kids and work again in the evening because it suited me to do that.

“So we talked about it at length. And then Roy, said, ‘well, ifyouwant it, everyone wants it’.”

It turns out a lot of travel professionals actually did. But it wasn’t simple, as Roy puts it, “because none of the systems were there”.

“Only about a third of travel agents even had an email!” Roy explains, about the lack of digital systems that we now take for granted.

Mobile Travel Agents Founders Roy and Karen Merricks meet ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ Li Cunxin in 2019.

After doing their homework on remote set-ups already in existence in places like the US, they were ready to go on 18 February 2000.

True to its family-oriented ethos, even the Merricks’ children Ben and Sara got involved in the business from the start – especially on the digital side of things.

“It was controversial, but once we launched, we just knew it was going to work,” Karen says.

Unless you call earning big money controversial, it’s hardly contentious any more.

“And these guys [members] are happy because they have freedom, they have flexibility; they work around their families.”

Long may that happiness continue. Happy birthday MTA – Mobile Travel Agents!

First published on KarryOn – Mark Harada

“There’s room for everyone in the travel industry”

Kerryn Taylor — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 07:16:53 +0000

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents CEO Don Beattie is an easy interview. Query him on MTA or the travel agency sector and he’ll go on and on (in a good way, of course).

A big part of Mobile Travel Agents’ success simply comes down to the flexibility it offers its members.

“We want everybody that we come in contact with to feel what MTA is. We don’t restrict anybody from doing anything,” Beattie tells Karryon in an interview.

“I think one thing that MTA does exceptionally is that we manage what we call ‘stage in life’. During life, there are births, deaths and marriages and everything in between. So sometimes business is not the most important thing in life. Our model supports that completely. I think it ties people to us.”

That commitment to providing an environment in which a healthy work-life balance can thrive mightn’t come as a shock to those who know the origin of Mobile Travel Agents.

Family-focused foundation

Mobile Travel Agents founders Roy Merricks (left) and Karen Merricks. (Image Mark Harada)

“So Karen and Roy Merrick started MTA 24 years ago. They are phenomenal. Karen started this business to predominantly give women who had children the opportunity to own their own business and come back into travel… and she’s carried that philosophy through all the way,” Beattie explains.

“MTA is heavily family-focused. But that does not mean that we’re not professional in what we do.”

This balance essentially means members can work at their own pace, and adapt the business model to suit their particular needs.

“We can’t magically aim at a target and hit it,” Beattie says.

“We want to support our advisors to grow their business at the speed and to the level they want. There are no sales targets in MTA. There are no sales targets for our staff in relation to recruiting at all.

“We want the focus to be on the people, not on the target. And does it work for us? I think we’re doing well.”

Record revenue

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents group in Fiji.

That’s putting it mildly. At the time of the interview, FY24 was on target to smash any previous year in terms of overall revenue for the group.

“We had a record year last year and this year is even higher than last year,” the Mobile Travel Agents boss says.

“This is the best time in recent years for people [in travel] to have a really good chance of being successful. And if you’re not busy at this point in time, I think you’d really have to investigate your way of operating.”

Overall, Beattie expects growth to continue for the group in the next few years.

“I think it might not be as high a percentage of growth but it will absolutely grow. Of course, the larger the growth is, even in percentage terms, the larger dollar returns there are. So two per cent growth of $100 million is different from 10 per cent growth of $10. So you’re going to see massive returns still,” he says.

“I think for the expert travel advisors, it’s almost got to the stage at this point in time, that there’s more custom than there is the ability to service that custom.”

And that’s the opposite of where the industry was during the pandemic.

“So it’s a wonderful place to be, but it’s created an opposite stress of the work-life balance. So COVID probably drove us more towards the leisure side of things. And now we’re at the exact opposite end of that pendulum where we’re at capacity. And now we have to almost get to the stage of saying, do I need to choose the customers with whom I wish to work? It’s a beautiful place to be.”

Room for everyone

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents head office staff. (Image Mark Harada)

It’s perhaps because of this, that Beattie says he isn’t concerned by the growth in competitiveness of the travel agency sector: from physical stores to online travel agents and indeed home-based advisors.

“There is room for everybody. I think what will happen is the slices of the pie are just going to change,” he remarks.

“I think what we see is somewhat of a shrinking of the shopfront retail and an explosion of perhaps the mobile style.

“Now, if an MTA member wanted to open a shopfront, they could, nothing is stopping them. What we would say is, you’re now introducing a new level of cost to your business.”

Beattie states that MTA doesn’t specifically aim to be the biggest mobile/home-based agency group, but its membership has risen to a robust 450 agents or so. And within the membership base, “the spectrum is massive”. While the group normally only welcomes travel advisors with a minimum of five years of face-to-face consulting experience, he still calls Mobile Travel Agents “a bit of a melting pot”.

“We get people coming from all walks of life. In the sense of travel life. And they have different attributes. And I think the hardest thing when they come into our environment is their choice… they have choice,” he notes.

“We do not dictate what they must sell. The decision is made by the advisor and the customer. Our preferred partners are there because they’re great supporters.

“We don’t force targets… we don’t force product to targets. And for some people who have lived in a very constrained environment, having choice becomes difficult.”

‘Hobbyists’ to heroes

Mobile Travel Agents members at the recent ILTM Asia Pacific 2024 conference. (Image supplied)

Mobile Travel Agents’ current success is a long way from its tough beginnings though.

“So when we first started 24 years ago, we were scorned… ‘hobbyists’, was I think the most common term… ‘part-timers’,” Beattie says.

“So I did a presentation to a large supplier group… and I brought in this slide and the second slide was a woman in a pink dressing gown, hair in curls, cigarette hanging out her mouth, toes parted with cotton – I said this is how you picture us. On the next slide, I told them what the average commission earned was by these people, and all of a sudden, I had 40 people listening to me intently. So the perception did not match the reality.”

Indeed, the industry and consumers are listening now.

For more information on MTA – Mobile Travel Agents, click here.

MTA Advisors shine at ILTM Singapore

Kerryn Taylor — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 23:42:34 +0000

A record group of 34 MTA Travel Advisors along with representatives from MTA’s Product Team, gathered at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. Over 650 brands are represented, meeeting with more than 650 travel advisors over three days. Our advisors are gaining new contacts, discovering up and coming travel destinations and connecting with the who’s who in luxury travel. They’ll use this knowledge to enhance their businesses and provide outstanding service for their clients.

Behind the scenes with an MTA Advisor – Danielle Lawson

Kerryn Taylor — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 01:36:40 +0000

Danielle Lawson’s passion for travel and dedication to providing unparalleled experiences to clients were the driving forces behind her decision to start her own travel business.

She chose to be a part of MTA because she says it was a natural fit due to its reputation for empowering agents with autonomy while offering a fully-inclusive support system.

The MTA network provided Lawson with the flexibility to tailor her services to individual client needs while benefiting from the credibility and resources associated with the reputable network.

Speaking to TravelTalk, Lawson said the benefits of being an MTA Advisor are multifaceted.

“Our Business Development Managers are a great resource to bounce ideas off or to sense check business ideas.

“Our Support team takes so much of the mid-office admin off my hands while our Assistance team is there to look after my clients for me if I’m away,” Lawson said.

“Our Product team provides insights into exclusive offerings and negotiates favourable rates for us, and Marketing helps me with resources to ensure I stay front of mind for my clients, leaving me to focus on delivering exceptional service to my clients.”

The benefits aren’t limited to the agent. It’s helpful for travellers, too.

“Clients booking through me as an MTA Advisor enjoy personalised attention and access to a vast network of resources.

“They benefit from my first hand travel knowledge and expertise gathered over years in the industry in curating bespoke travel experiences, coupled with the backing of MTA’s support infrastructure,” Lawson said.

“From seamless booking processes to tailored recommendations and ongoing assistance, clients can expect a level of service that exceeds their expectations.”

“I’ve been able to establish trust and credibility within my community, leading to sustained business growth.

“With MTA taking the title of “Most Outstanding Mobile Travel Network” at last year’s 2023 NTIA awards this has also helped my credibility being affiliated to an award winning network’.

Lawson said despite not operating a “traditional brick-and-mortar agency”, she’s able to bring services to her clients, whether that’s through in-person consultations, phone calls, or digital communications.

“By leveraging technology and personalised attention, I ensure that my clients receive a tailored experience from start to finish, creating memories that last a lifetime. Being that it’s my business I have a vested interest in making sure that each and every client has a great experience,” she said.

Lawson said she built up her MTA business with a combination of getting word out through her existing network, word-of-mouth referrals, and strategic marketing.

“By consistently delivering exceptional service and cultivating strong relationships with clients, I’ve been able to establish trust and credibility within my community, leading to sustained business growth.”

Lawson’s career so far has been an adventure.

“I once found myself planning itineraries and booking accommodations while on a Norwegian Fjords cruise. Despite the unconventional setting and remoteness, I was able to access a reliable internet connection and our MTA Virtual Office allows me to work from anywhere so I was able to ensure my clients received uninterrupted service,” she said.

She also recalls one memorable request was from a client who wanted to visit all the filming locations of their favourite soap opera.

“It was a delightful challenge to coordinate their itinerary across multiple cities, ensuring they got the full “soap opera experience” while maintaining a sense of humour throughout the planning process,” she laughed.

Lawson’s advice for anyone interested in becoming an MTA Advisor is simple.

“Immerse yourself in the world of travel, stay updated on industry trends, and never stop learning.”

“Building a successful career as a travel advisor requires passion, dedication, and a genuine desire to create unforgettable experiences for clients. Embrace technology, work on your communication skills, and never underestimate the power of personalised service in an increasingly digital world.”

credit: TraveltalkMag

MY LIFE AS THE TRAVELLING TRAVEL AGENT- Charissa Hanrahan

Kerryn Taylor — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 01:47:17 +0000

People often wonder if it’s possible to combine a trip around this great country of ours with work commitments.

In this exclusive article for Traveltalk, Charissa Hanrahan from MTA-Mobile Travel Agents shares her inspiring story as she attempts to “create the unthinkable”.

AFTER A year of less fortunate circumstances (my dear father passing away, health issues and my wife’s job redundancy) and living the daily nine-to-five grind, we decided to take an alternative look at life and enjoy the small things.

We bought a six-berth motorhome and left our three-bedroom inner city apartment to embark on a journey of adventure, growth and exploration of our amazing country.

People often refer to our lifestyle as a holiday and there is no doubt it is an incredible life experience.

Yet a typical day in the life of our ‘’travelling family’’ also includes me designing travel opportunities at MTA Travel, my wife facilitating the Distance Education curriculum for our eight-year-old while also providing engaging opportunities for our three-year-old.

Every day is an excursion and a new experience. A whole lot of planning goes in to this and I am very lucky to have more than 20 years’ experience planning and managing this exact scenario.

While my experience is generally focussed more in the areas of luxury, leisure and corporate travel, the skills are easily transferrable to our nomadic lifestyle.

We left Sydney in March but shortly after we encountered gearbox issues which resulted in a few months stay on the Gold Coast (no complaints) while awaiting parts and repairs.

With the Gold Coast being the home of MTA Head Office, I took the opportunity to participate in some additional training and face-to-face sessions with local suppliers. Next June marks 15 fabulous years for me with MTA travel.

We have now travelled 14,000km on this journey from Sydney to Rockhampton, through outback Queensland to Darwin and then through the Red Centre to South Australia.

A wedding saw us ‘’duck’’ back to Sydney through outback NSW and we are now headed towards Tasmania.

Next will be SA, the Nullarbor and then the entire Western Australia coast before crossing the Top End and back to the east coast – essentially doing the lap one-and-a-half times.

While exploring I have studied at University, worked on a cattle station and in a remote surfing community, broken down in small mining towns, been caught in eddy’s on the Oodnadatta Track, scaled incredible terrains solo, found myself sliding on a step ascent in the motorhome chasing the tallest tree in NSW, driven The Nullarbor four times (and taken The Indian Pacific) and motorcycled in places that only dirt bikes can get to.

Later this year I intend to take on The Nullarbor Links – an 18-hole golf course that spans 1,365km. I am by no means a golfer but cannot miss this opportunity and I am also excited to swim with the whale sharks in Exmouth (a bucket list experience, as was taking a helicopter over Uluru and Kata Tjuta last month).

An experience that I have told around many campfires is one where I found myself face-to-face with a gun in the middle of outback Northern Territory.

After travelling hundreds of kilometres, I decided to pull up at a roadside camp area. For as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but bush scrub, ant mounds, one other camper and the sound of perhaps six road trains passing throughout the night.

At 3am, I woke to what sounded like footsteps around the van. I was certain the sound was not from animals scouting the area.

I lay frozen until the first sign of light and after hours of planning how I was going to make my escape and defend myself (I was pretty creative in my thoughts), it was time to jump in the driver’s seat and make a ‘’run’’ for it.

Once in the driver’s seat with keys shakily in hand, I noticed a gun sitting at the top of a two-metre-high ant mound, pointing directly into the windscreen, just two-metres away.

Adrenalin pumping, I made my ‘’getaway’’ safely, noticing that while it may have been a toy gun there was no way I was getting out to inspect!

Many of my clients enjoy the banter of my nomadic experiences and appreciate the first-hand knowledge of places that they wish to visit (in Australia and the 42 countries I have visited abroad).

I am fondly known by some of my clients as “The Travelling Travel Agent” – a name that I own with pride!

While my office backdrop changes, Uluru one week and a sunset over Mindil Beach the next, the consistency and quality of my work remains the same.

This is all possible with thanks to MTA’s VO (Virtual Office) which gives me access to my travel systems anywhere I have internet access. Starlink technology (satellite powered internet) now has coverage across all of Australia. Interestingly, internet speeds in outback areas exceed that in cities due to less demand in the area.

With every workplace, there are challenges and my biggest one would be space and especially if it rains. With two young kids in the van, when school isn’t happening, it is time for board games, arts and craft and movie day/nights with all the creature comforts.

I overcome this by frequenting local cafés in populated areas or my newly purchased detachable ‘office’ which is essentially a gazebo with walls built into it.

I also enjoy working in nature so sometimes I simply scope a beautiful space outdoors and take my table, chair, Starlink and laptop.

Flexibility is one of the highlights of living this lifestyle and I am incredibly grateful to be working in the travel industry and have access to the MTA systems and network to help facilitate my business.

Coupled with this, the time that I have with my family, exploring and watching my little munchkins grow is next to none. The social interactions and education that my children encounter on the road is not something that can ever be taught or learned.

I live by my motto throughout my career and personal life. This is to ‘’Create the Unthinkable’’ (a true reflection of my lifestyle). Nothing is too difficult or too far out of reach. Live and love life exactly the way that you dream it!

MTA clinches Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network at National Travel Industry Awards 2023

Kerryn Taylor — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 02:49:11 +0000

MTA-Mobile Travel Agents is thrilled to have been crowned ‘Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network’ at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIAs). Held in Melbourne for the first time in 18 years at the Crown Palladium, the NTIAs brought together key players in the travel industry to recognise and celebrate excellence. MTA’s achievement in securing the award for the Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network is a testament to the company’s commitment to exceptional service and dedication to meeting the evolving needs of advisors and travellers.

MTA’s Wendy Brockbank has also been recognised with the individual award of the ‘Most Outstanding Mobile Travel Advisor’. Wendy has carved out a niche with F1® Experiences as their representative in Australia and specialising in travel to Formula One and Moto GP. “We’re incredibly proud to have Wendy as part of the MTA family’, said Karen Merricks – Co-Founder & Managing Director of MTA, ‘She does an amazing job for all her clients, and she’s such a lovely lady as well!”

This award not only recognises MTA’s outstanding contributions to the travel industry but also reinforces its position as a trailblazer in mobile travel in Australia. The company remains dedicated to exceeding advisor and their clients’ expectations on building on the win. “This achievement reflects on the collective effort and culture of community that sets MTA apart,” said Merricks.

MTA Mobile Travel Agents announces 2024 Conference in Fiji

Kerryn Taylor — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 01:01:11 +0000

MTA Mobile Travel Agents’ highly anticipated 2024 National Conference is set to take place in the picturesque Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort and Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island, Fiji in May/Jun 2024.

MTA is delighted to host the national conference overseas for the very first time. Under the theme of “Celebrate the Journey” the conference promises to be a celebration of resilience, growth and the company’s unwavering commitment to the success and well-being of its travel advisors and support team.

Fiji is a destination very close to the hearts of Karen and Roy Merricks, Founders & MDs of MTA. “We can’t wait to come together in Fiji,” said Karen Merricks, “The genuine warmth and friendliness of the local people makes Fiji such a special destination and we can’t wait to share it with all our advisors, support team and preferred suppliers”.

MTA’s 2024 National Conference promises an engaging and dynamic agenda, featuring keynote speakers, industry updates, professional development as well as time to experience the local culture.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of idyllic Denarau Island, making for a memorable experience and MTA is proud to support Fijian tourism by choosing this beautiful destination.