Reflecting on an Unforgettable Weekend: The 2025 Travel Counsellors Conference

What a weekend!

From the moment we arrived at the beautiful Arabella Hotel, Golf & Spa in the Western Cape, we knew this year’s conference would be something special. Not only were we celebrating another successful year - we were also celebrating an important milestone: 18 years of Travel Counsellors South Africa.

18 Years and Beyond

Our theme this year, “18 & Beyond”, perfectly captured the energy of the event. It was a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come since those early days in 2007 when the idea of home-based travel consultants was considered by many in South Africa as a long shot. And yet, here we are - 18 years later - with a thriving community of independent business owners, an industry-leading support team, and bold plans for the future.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Managing Director of Travel Counsellors South Africa, Mladen Lukic, shared stories from our humble beginnings to highlight how far the company has come in 18 years. He was also thrilled to welcome Charmaine Higgins, our very first TC inducted in 2007, to our 18th conference!

Mladen reminded us that what makes Travel Counsellors special isn’t just the business model - it’s the people. That message carried through every part of the conference, from the inspiring keynote speakers to the meaningful connections made during breakout sessions and dinners.

Tinyiko and Petroné catching up

Community, Connection, and Celebration

The weekend kicked off with a buzzing Travel Market, where 47 suppliers connected with our Travel Counsellors.

The evening took a nostalgic turn with our TC Matric Bash (yes, we had to dress like we were in Matric again!) which included a fiercely competitive quiz night!

During Friday evening we also took the time to celebrate supplier representatives who provide exceptional service to our Travel Counsellors. The winners of the Legend Awards (as voted by the TCs) were Michelle van Wyk, Qantas and Fuzzy Alexander, LX Shuttles and Tours.

From Left: Mladen Lukic, Fuzzy Alexander, Rachel Boyd

From Left: Rachel Boyd, Michelle van Wyk, Mladen Lukic

We also heard from some truly remarkable individuals. Paralympian Natalie du Toit moved us with her message about resilience and overcoming challenges, while Brent Lindeque (aka The Good Things Guy) brought a fresh perspective on shifting mindsets and "changing the narrative."

Natalie du Toit

Brent Lindeque

Recognising Excellence

One of the most special moments of the weekend was the Gala Dinner and Awards Evening. We dressed to the nines, danced to Hey Mamela, and honoured our top-performing Travel Counsellors across various categories - from Best Business Growth to Most Helpful TC. A massive congratulations to all the winners - your hard work and heart truly shine.

• Top Performing TC – Anna Dalrymple
• Top Performing New Starter – Petrie Sinclair
• Top Referrer – Melody Visagie
• Best Business Growth – Natalie Matthews
• Best Phenix Sales – Kerith Hulme
• Most Helpful TC – Ronel Blom
• Top TC Score Leisure – Nicci Hayden
• Top TC Score Corporate – Marijke Davel

From Left: Jim Eastwood (TC Global Sales Director) and Mladen Lukic (TC Managing Director) with award-winners Ronel Blom, Most Helpful TC; Petrie Sinclair, Best New Starter; Anna Dalrymple, Best Performing TC; Natalie Matthews, Best Business Growth; and Marc de Jager (TC Head Office Business Development Manager)

Marijke Davel with Ian Keane

Nicci Hayden with Marc de Jager

Tech That Supports Human Connection

While the weekend was filled with human connection, we also looked at the role of technology. We shared how our AI-powered TC Co-pilot is being developed not to replace the human touch, but to strengthen it. As Mladen said, “Technology is the engine. You are the heart.”

A Final Word

As the weekend came to a close, Mladen left us with a powerful reminder: "Beyond starts with you. You’ve always been exceptional at taking care of others - now it’s time to shape your business to deliver what you truly want."

We're proud of how far we've come, excited about where we're headed, and grateful for every Travel Counsellor, supplier, and team member who continues to shape this journey with us. Here's to going further, together.