The past few months have been a whirlwind of activity for us. Our teams around the world have been proudly representing Stuba, immersing themselves in a series of exciting events, conferences, and prestigious award ceremonies. As we reflect on our global triumphs, we’re excited to gather the highlights from the last three months to share with you.
UK and Ireland
In October, we kicked off our exciting #StuBash events, spanning across London, Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle. These informal gatherings, featuring delightful drinks, nibbles, and scrumptious afternoon teas, have been fantastic opportunities to unite agents and partners and allowed us to express our gratitude for their unwavering support and hard work. The #StuBash series concluded its journey with the grand finale of the current run of events taking place at The Goring in London.
Amidst the bustling schedule, the team have participated in various conferences, including the Barrhead Travel Conference, the Worldchoice conference in Cork where we sponsored the fantastic 360 video platform, the TTNG conference in snowy Munich, as well as SPAA lunches and Star Roadshows. Most notably, our BDM Anna Hawkins stole the spotlight at the recent Travelosophers conference held in Marbella, leaving an indelible mark on the event!
It’s also been a privilege for us to be part of several prestigious award ceremonies during the last few months. At Stuba, we deeply value every nomination and award, never taking them for granted. Your unwavering support and recognition truly humble us. Winning the Best Accommodation Specialist title at the NI Travel News Awards and being crowned as Star Accommodation-Only Provider at the Bulletin Star Awards left us absolutely elated. These acknowledgments reinforce our commitment and drive to continually exceed expectations in the industry.
A pivotal event in our calendar, for not only the UK but for all global markets, has to be WTM, which unfolded in London at the beginning of November. Three exhilarating days filled with bustling networking, engaging interactions, and enriching conversations among passionate travel professionals. Hosting a stand was an absolute honour, providing us the opportunity to connect with numerous remarkable individuals. The experience was immensely fulfilling, leaving us eagerly anticipating the chance to relive it all next year!
To end the year on a high note, CEO Matt Stuart invited the UK & Ireland team to Brighton for a festive gathering at the outstanding Ivy Asia. The team enjoyed no less than nine courses of rich Asian cuisine, washed down with a glass or two of bubbles. The perfect end to a fantastic year!
Australia and New Zealand
Our team down under has been bustling with activity too. In October, BDM Brad Sperling orchestrated a memorable outing, taking agents to the Panezski Artisan Distillery. It was a splendid occasion to engage in presentations, network, and savour a delectable grazing table, all while sampling a taste of the distillery’s finest vodka!
October concluded on a high note as Stuba proudly debuted as an exhibitor at the esteemed Travel Tech Asia event, hosted at the magnificent Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore. The event marked a significant milestone for us as we stepped into the limelight to showcase our curated hotels for travel agents and our state-of-the-art technology that makes this possible. The event provided an exceptional platform to engage with clients and partners, fostering meaningful connections. Anticipation is already building for next year’s event as we eagerly look forward to another enriching experience.
Stuba achieved yet another milestone as our Head of Sales – APAC, Rebecca Day, took a seat on Travel Weekly TV’s couch. She delved into an engaging conversation, sharing insights about all things Stuba and our shared passion for the remarkable travel industry. If you missed it, you can view the whole interview here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMMOInP1TwQ. Everyone at Stuba was also proud of Rebecca when she was nominated for a Women in Travel Award. Sarah Pollard and Rebecca had a fantastic night at the awards ceremony in Sydney at the beginning of December.
A major highlight in the Australian travel industry’s annual calendar is the NTIA ceremony, which took place recently alongside an extravagant Gala dinner. Stuba proudly sponsored the evening and CEO Ruchir Bang and CIO Anuj Bang made a special visit to Australia to grace the occasion. While there, they seized the opportunity to reconnect with the Pacific team and shared a delightful VIP lunch at the iconic Eureka 89 alongside a selection of wonderful partners. The gathering was made even more special with a guest appearance by Dean Long, CEO of ATIA.
As the year draws to a close, Brad has been fully embracing the festive cheer with a schedule brimming with delightful gatherings including the Travel Managers Christmas Luncheon, the MTA suppliers Christmas drinks, as well as an extravagant appreciation dinner at The Star Casino and Draculas’s show.
These past few months have certainly been busy for everyone at Stuba, and as we approach the end of 2023, we’re eagerly anticipating what lies ahead in 2024, but one thing is for sure, we couldn’t do any of it without the amazing support we receive from all you incredible agents and partners!
