PALM SPRINGS, CA., 27 October 2014 – Ensemble Travel® Group, a leader in the North American travel consortia market, announced plans today to initiate a global expansion into Australia/New Zealand in 2015.  

Ensemble Co-President Lindsay Pearlman announced the strategic move during the opening session of the organization's annual conference in Palm Springs attended by more than 900 members, partners, and guests.  

According to Pearlman, the expansion to Australia/New Zealand is a natural next step for the growing travel group. “Ensemble is a nimble and dynamic group, and our agent- and partner-focused model is right for today's thriving Australia/New Zealand market.”

Heading up the Ensemble expansion in Australia/New Zealand is new Ensemble Senior Vice President and General Manager Trish Shepherd, a travel industry veteran with a successful track record in regional and international partnerships and strategic alliances.

“There is an incredible opportunity within the Australian/New Zealand market to create a new program for travel professionals, one which put the needs of its members first,” said Shepherd. “Travel agency owners want a relationship that is a true partnership, and that is what we are going to create with Ensemble.”

“We are looking for members who are hungry to be the market leaders, and want to achieve a higher level of success in this industry. Ensemble agencies tend to be stronger and outperform their peers in Canada in the U.S.  We want to bring that same opportunity to Australia/New Zealand,” Shepherd said.

Ensemble's plan is to assemble top agency groups and independent owners in Australia/New Zealand that are forward thinkers and looking for real value for their investment. For travel agency owners, that means transparency, business development consultancy, and marketing know-how and support, with a focus on the individual agency's brand. 

“Our members consistently tell us that our focus on their business success and our commitment to absolute integrity are what set us apart. They trust us to deliver value to their business overall, as well as their bottom line,” Pearlman said. 

Ensemble Australia/New Zealand will begin welcoming new members at the start of 2015. “We are incredibly excited to bring Ensemble to Australia/New Zealand,” Shepherd said. “We know this market, and we've developed this solution with Australian/New Zealand travel agents in mind.” 

About Ensemble Travel® Group

Founded in 1968, Ensemble Travel® Group is a proactive, member-owned international organization of approximately 850 professional travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada. With a membership that represents billions of dollars in travel sales each year, Ensemble Travel Group has achieved a 45+-year record of boosting members' profits and delivering high-volume sales to its preferred suppliers. To learn more about Ensemble Travel Group, call (212) 545-7460 in the U.S., (416) 367-3660 in Canada, or visit www.joinensemble.com.