The Mole chats with Contiki’s leader – Tammy talks!

The Mole took the opportunity recently to have a chat with Tammy Marshall the head of Contiki Australia to see what’s new at Australia’s leading 18-35 operator, where a lot seems to be going on.

This is what she told The Mole: –

Contiki is very different to any of the other Travel Corporation brands offering 18-35’s a huge range of superlative high quality, high value holidays to amazing destinations and if you think about it there is nobody else in this market that does that and not only that, we have been doing it highly successfully for a very long time!

We continually reinvent ourselves, while keeping our core principles close to our hearts, but we are very good at responding to and reflecting market forces and demands, with our Time Out, Concept and Camping Programmes reflecting that

Time Out is our Contiki hotel program which offers our more seasoned and what you might call aspirational travellers or ones with a bit more to spend, a range of touring styles and options staying in Superior Tourist Class hotels throughout the itineraries, with tours include hotel accommodation, sightseeing, transport most meals and the benefit of an experienced tour manager and driver.

Concept is ideal for those travellers on a tight budget because it packages the sights and experiences with a variety of accommodation, from cabins in top campsites and well located hotels to Contiki’s amazing and unique stopovers like an Austrian Gasthof and our very own 16^th Century French Chateau.

Camping Tours include travel in luxury coaches, accommodation in top campsites with swimming pools, showers, washing facilities, handy shops and a lively nightlife as well as many meals and loads of sightseeing and this style of touring is really great value for those wanting to get the absolute most for their travelling dollar.

So, as you can see we have brought together a really great cross section or segment related product offering that at all times offers the best in its class and at all times providing excellent value for money.

We want to make sure that at all times we add to our clients’ experiences so that not only do they have a great time at a great price, but they come back to Aus and tell all their mates that they had a great time and without doubt that has been happening for some time, is happening and now and we are determined will happen into the future – they are our very best ambassadors! 

The youth market has changed hugely over recent years and while our cleints still want that fun that Contiki is famous for, they want much more.  They want culture, they want to experience that culture and history, they really want to learn about the destinations they are travelling through and to, they are exploratory and inquisitive about the destinations they are travelling to – this is not a generation of young people who have no idea where they have been except for the hotel, bars and night clubs and while these are important, these travellers want real experiences, provided by the professionals, which is what we do and I have to say, very well indeed.

Contiki is also unique in that we have over 100 of our people on the ground in Europe who are real specialists in their work and destinations and we believe that no other operator in this space offers that degree of speciality, comfort and inside track.

A recent feature of our programmes, which is different from our previous programmes is that we now offer more free time and spend longer in locations.  Also, while we include the icons, because of our special arrangements with the operators of some of the world’s leading icon attractions, Contiki clients go straight to the front of the line with no queuing!

We also now offer a range of experience options and activities in each location so that our clients can satisfy their own specific holiday needs, requirements and experiences, with the comfort of knowing they have been arranged by an experienced operator.

The Mole asked Tammy what qualified her to be running Australia’s top 18-35 operator and this is what she said.

I have 12 years experience in the ski industry globally and my work was very much aimed and ensuring that all our clients and in particular younger skiers had a great experience and a great time.  I am a marketing specialist having also completed a Bachelor of Management, a Post Graduate degree and finally an MBA in 2002. 

I am also an avid believer in coach based touring as the very best way for young people to travel and in particular with Contiki, because I am passionate about making sure that they have the very best product for the very best price and value for money on offer and also that they have really great experiences.  

I also believe that the great thing about coach touring is that between 40 passengers on a coach there are plenty or people to make friends with and even if you if do not get one with someone there are heaps of others to get on with – also many lifelong relationships are formed on Contiki tours!

It is also great to have young people selling our product because they understand they psyche of the customer and I believe that we have the very best team in the industry in Australia.

The future is very rosy indeed for Contiki with our continuing to build on our 43 years in business and going from strength to strength.  Travel is a higher priority for young people now than it has been in the past, because they are not thinking about super, although that is often taken care for them by employers thank goodness, but they are living for today, with at the same time their parents spending their inheritance, so super will come on the agenda at some time, but he that’s in the future and now is time to travel!  They are streetwise and hungry for authentic experiences and that is what we deliver.

I also look forward to being part of the excitement and future of Contiki for some time!

Thank you Tammy.

Interview by The Mole