This March, at TravCorp’s annual media day, the company’s brand presidents came together to present journalists with what’s new and noteworthy at each of their brands. As it always seems to happen when the TravCorp presidents get together, there was plenty of friendly teasing and one-upmanship on display, as well as a lot of laughs. The spirit of camaraderie among the presidents is unmistakable, and it has given TravCorp — a huge player that moves more than a million travelers per year worldwide — an engaging and likable personality with the media, with travel agents and with consumers.
In this issue’s cover story, “Leading the Way” (page 10), you can read how TravCorp’s presidents differentiate their brands, as well as receive a few tips on selling their products.
To Richard Launder, president of TravCorp USA, the respect the brand presidents have for each another makes his job much easier.
“In our business, as tough as it is, with all the challenges the travel industry has to deal with, you have to be able to laugh at the end of the day,” Launder said. “And the fact that we like each other and are all good mates — well, that certainly helps.”
Having a staff that supports one another is something that tends to be overlooked. Not only does a positive work environment help businesses retain good employees, but a team works harder if they feel motivated not to let each other down.
I’m proud to speak from experience. Recently, our editorial team had an off-site meeting to discuss planning and it was clear that one of the assets we have at TravelAge West is the fact that we all truly like each other. Having an editorial staff that supports one another and avoids conflicts of ego can be rare in publishing. That’s unfortunate because, as TravCorp demonstrates, the attitude a person has toward his work is often felt by customers.
So take a lesson from Launder and the others at TravCorp, and make sure you and your coworkers can laugh together at the end of the day.
