Ensemble Travel Group has shuttered the travel group’s operation in Australia and New Zealand, just over 12 months since new CEO David Harris took over the reins.
Late last week, the consortia revealed it would discontinue the Australasia business, closing its Oxford Street, Sydney address at the end of April. Ensemble Travel Group had 44 member agencies in the region and three staff at its local outpost.
“Over the past five years, Ensemble has pursued several viable business opportunities, including expansion in Australia and New Zealand,” Harris said. “But, as our goal is always to operate a profitable model for our members, we regretfully have had to make the difficult business decision to discontinue our operations in this market. This was due in large part to not being able to develop and maintain the kind of critical mass needed to sustain this effort.”
Harris said he was disappointed the expansion into Australasia “didn’t grow in the manner which we had hoped”.
He continued saying Ensemble was sincerely appreciative to the local team “who worked passionately to build the business halfway around the world.”
The North American based travel network launched down under in 2015, headed by Trish Shepherd in the position as General Manager. Last April Shepherd was replaced by Ensemble Senior Director Sales and Supplier Relations Australia/New Zealand, Katy Muyt. In September 2019, Ensemble’s President of over 8.5 years, Libbie Rice, also stood down from her role with the company.
Ensemble Travel Group has over 750 members in North America.
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