CT Partners members gain rare geopolitical edge as expert travel advice reaches new heights

CT Partners

CT Partners was pleased to bring together 50 member agency leaders at the InterContinental Double Bay in Sydney for the first Owner/Managers meeting of 2026, delivering a program packed with global insights, peer collaboration and forward-looking industry discussion.

 
The meeting came at a moment when the value of experienced, informed travel consultants has never been more evident. In an increasingly complex world with geopolitical tension and rapidly changing travel conditions, the role of the professional travel advisor is proving indispensable to corporate and leisure travellers alike.

The highlight of the morning was a keynote address from Jonathan Pain, financial analyst and geopolitical expert, who took members on what many described as a genuinely fascinating global journey. Drawing on eight years of living and working in Bahrain, Pain offered deep, considered insights into the driving forces behind the Middle East conflict, fascinating commentary on Trump and who his influencers were, and how the US and China relationship is ultimately the one which matters the most in terms of future global stability.

CT Partners CEO Matt Masson said the session exemplified the kind of value the consortium aims to deliver to its members.

"Jonathan gave our members a level of insight and context that is genuinely hard to find. Understanding the forces shaping the world isn't just intellectually interesting for our industry - it directly informs the advice our members give their clients every day. That's what great travel consultants do: they connect the dots between what's happening in the world and what it means for their travellers. Sessions like this make our members sharper and more confident in that role."

CT Partners

Nicole Boyer, GM Partnerships, facilitated a rich member roundtable drawing on perspectives from Judy Tanner (Aurora Travel), Nathaniel Musters (Traveltrust and ATMC board member) and Baris Celik (TAG). The conversation covered a wide range of forward-looking topics including member participation on industry boards and committees, ideas for more effective communication and knowledge sharing across the network, the potential for greater collaboration on shared technology solutions, and the need for stronger training resources to support the next generation of travel professionals.

"What energises me about these meetings is the quality of the conversation. Our members are thoughtful, experienced people who care deeply about this industry and when you get them in a room together, the ideas flow. There was excellent food for thought coming out of last week's discussion, and it sets us up well as we move into business planning for the year ahead,” added Matt Masson.

The Sydney meeting builds on a strong start to 2026 for the consortium. CT Partners has welcomed three new members, World Business Travel, Gullivers Group and DIRECTIONS, bringing total membership to a record 35. The growth reflects the network’s increased focus on Business Meetings & Events, which has attracted both new member agencies and increased supplier engagement as corporate demand in that segment continues to strengthen.

This adds to the strong 2025 platform of $2.46 billion TTV, reflecting 11% growth YoY, and an NPS of 93 for a third consecutive year above 90. The next CT Partners Owner/Managers meeting is scheduled in November in Shanghai, ahead of a 3-day sailing on board Ritz-Carlton Yacht’s Luminara to Hong Kong.

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