THE parent company of Topdeck Travel and Back-Roads Touring has welcomed the return of Anna Fawcett as its new General Manager for the APAC region. Her return comes as Global Touring’s General Manager Global Sales, David Gendle, prepares to retire after a 35-year career in the industry.
Before hanging up his hat at the end of this year, Gendle will replace Dylan Hearne, who recently left the company, as Head of Sales. Global Touring Managing Director Ed Pettitt said, “David has been instrumental in our sales success over the last six years and we certainly would not be in this position without him”.
Meanwhile, in her new role, Fawcett will focus on sales and customer service, working closely with the travel trade and seeking out new distribution channels for the two travel brands. She was the Global Head of Marketing for Topdeck for two years between 2018-2020, during which time she led the ‘Feel Real’ relaunch of the brand and won “Best Use of Social Media” at the Youth Travel awards.
Fawcett’s impressive CV also includes various roles at VisitBritain and ChristchurchNZ, and most recently, a stint in the Solomon Islands as a Technical Advisor – Destination Marketing at Tourism Solomons, where she played a key role in supporting the destination’s tourism recovery and growth from the impact of COVID-19.
“We are delighted to welcome Anna back to the Global Touring team as we gear up for our next phase of growth after our mighty COVID-19 bounceback,” Pettitt said. “She is a pioneer, who achieved phenomenal things for Topdeck Travel and will add a new layer of strategic thinking to both our brands.”
Fawcett enthused, “I am really excited to be rejoining Global Touring, and to lead the Australia team out of Brisbane…this is such an exciting time of expansion on many levels and I am thrilled to be part of it”.
