TRAVEL industry legend Barry Mayo has announced his retirement after working in the sector for over six decades.
Currently Chair of House of Travel Australia, encompassing TravelManagers and Hoot Holidays, Mayo’s stellar career has seen him as the former head of Harvey World Travel Limited when it was publicly listed, as well as more than a decade as Director and later Chairman of CT Partners.
Earlier roles included positions with various airlines including Qantas, Garuda, KLM, Pan Am, Alitalia and Ansett, and he was also MD of Insight International Vacations Australia in the 1990s.
Mayo is also a past Chairman of IATA’s Australian Travel Agency Program, and has also held various official roles with the Board of Airline Representatives Australia and the American Society of Travel Agents.
He had intended to retire in 2020 after turning 75 in late 2019, but decided to postpone his departure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everyone is aware of how stressful the past few years have been, and my greatest concern was for my colleagues and our TravelManagers’ morale and wellbeing,” he said.
“The last thing I wanted to do was walk away from the industry I have loved and people who have been such an important part of my life, at a time like that.”
However now that the industry is showing strong signs of recovery, “the time is right for me to commence the next phase of my life,” he said.
Mayo will step down as chair of House of Travel Australia and TravelManagers, with House of Travel NZ CEO Bruce Parton taking over from 30 Jun.
He’ll continue to consult to the company and complete projects currently under way, with House of Travel Australia CEO Joe Araullo paying tribute to Mayo’s longstanding contribution.
“His experience and knowledge are unprecedented, but when you combine those two aspects with his immense commitment to the travel industry, he is indeed a legend,” Araullo said.
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Source: traveldaily