October - What a month?!

So what a month October has been – so much to share! Firstly, I would like to say a huge thank you to the Hunter Region Business Hub – I was pleased to be nominated as a finalist in the Business Excellence Awards again this year, and even more pleased to be announced the winner of the Tourism and Hospitality category, against some very stiff competition. It has also been a very busy month in the cruise area of travel, with the annual sale month of October being #ChooseCruise month, and so many great deals on offer it’s hard to know where to look first. I have taken a cruise myself this month as part of a group of 130 people who had not seen each other for 20 years and I could list so many reasons why a cruise was the perfect choice of get-together and we had such a great time, and I am also cruising again during October to the South Pacific on a CLIA Masters Accreditation course in cruise sales and training.

Having a reunion (or any gathering of friends or family) on a cruise ship has so many positives. Each participant can set their own budget - inside, oceanview or balcony cabins, to eat the included meals or opt to dine in a speciality restaurant with a cover charge. To drink or not, to buy the ship photographers photos or not, you can attend any show you like, be as active or laid back as you like, and all the while have up to 3 whole days and nights to move around your group and really spend some quality time with everyone. Trying to catch up with 100 people over dinner? Impossible. Even at a resort or hotel, people have cars and other options to "escape" the venue. The ship contains people to a defined venue. It has activities for the young and young-at-heart alike. Without a doubt, every single person in our group thought it was an inspired idea, and the date has been set to do it again in 5 years time!

On a more serious note, I was very pleased to have been able to donate, on behalf of MTA Sarah Fenton and the Cessnock Rotary Club, a gift voucher to the recent Golf Charity day at The Vintage to raise money for the farmers drought relief efforts, and so pleased that it was not only sold in the silent auction, but has been put to good use already – congratulations!

I would like to remind you that the unique feature of me being with MTA is that I do not keep office hours nor have a place you have to make an effort to meet me at. My availability is to come to meet you any time and any place that suits you, to discuss any holiday or travel plans that you may be considering. And it does not cost you any more.

You can contact me via numerous channels... email is sfenton@mtatravel.com.au // Phone is 0404 831 867 // or through my facebook page www.facebook.com/sarahfentonMTA

Just don’t call in the last week of October – I hear the weather in Noumea is going to be perfect!

By Sarah Fenton

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