Collette Appoints Matt Drummond to Drive Travel Trade...

The global tour operator Collette is aggressively scaling its Oceania footprint, appointing Matt Drummond as Director of Partnerships for Australia and New Zealand to bridge the gap between corporate strategy and local travel advisors.

The Shift Toward Advisor-Centric Growth

The travel industry is seeing a marked pivot back toward high-touch, expert-led curation. Collette is leaning into this trend by placing travel advisors at the absolute center of its regional growth strategy. The appointment of Matt Drummond is not merely a corporate hire; it is a strategic signal that the company intends to move away from generic consumer-facing activity and toward deep, symbiotic relationships with agency partners.

Drummond enters the role with more than 20 years of experience in sales leadership, strategic account management, and commercial partnerships. His background includes a significant 17-year tenure at G Adventures, where he most recently served as the national sales manager for Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. This specific regional expertise is designed to accelerate Collette's ability to deliver long-term value to the trade partners who actually drive the bookings.

Cultural and Environmental Value: The Human Element of Travel

For the visitor, the real impact of this shift is a return to personalized, high-value itinerary planning. By strengthening the bond between the tour operator and the advisor, the end-traveler benefits from more nuanced local knowledge and better-supported journeys. Collette's "Explorations" small-group product exemplifies this approach, focusing on immersive experiences rather than mass-market tourism.

From a regional perspective, this focus on trade partnerships supports the local economy by ensuring that tourism flows are managed through professional channels that prioritize quality over quantity. When tour operators invest in the advisor community, they foster a sustainable ecosystem where local guides, boutique hotels, and regional artisans are promoted by experts who understand the cultural heritage of the destination.

Visitor Insider Tips: Navigating Oceania

For those planning a journey through Australia and New Zealand via a curated tour, these local nuances can elevate the experience:

The Shoulder Season Advantage: To avoid the peak crowds of December and January, aim for the "shoulder" months of October-November or March-April. The weather remains temperate, and local attractions are far less congested.
Cultural Etiquette: In New Zealand, embrace the concept of Kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the land). Visitors are encouraged to leave no trace and respect the sacredness of Marae (meeting grounds).
Dining Secrets: Move beyond the tourist hubs in Sydney and Auckland. Seek out "hole-in-the-wall" eateries in Melbourne’s laneways or the regional seafood shacks of the South Island for a more authentic taste of the region.
Booking Strategy: Use a specialized travel advisor. As Collette’s new strategy suggests, the most exclusive perks and "off-menu" itinerary adjustments are often only available through direct agency partnerships.

Tourism Outlook: The Long-Term Impact

The appointment of a dedicated Director of Partnerships suggests that the era of "do-it-yourself" mass tourism is evolving. We are entering a period where the "curated journey" is the primary luxury. By investing in the infrastructure of the travel trade, Collette is positioning itself to capture a market that values reliability, expertise, and strategic cooperation over the lowest price point.

The long-term result for Australia and New Zealand will likely be a more resilient tourism sector. When operators and agencies work in lockstep, they can better manage over-tourism in hotspots and redirect visitors toward emerging regional gems, ensuring that the economic benefits of travel are distributed more equitably across the landscape.

A strategic bet on human expertise in an increasingly automated travel world.