Biography
About Gavin Tollman
Gavin Tollman is best known for his flourishing career in the international tourism market. Today he is CEO of Trafalgar Tours, one of the world's leading group touring and travel companies. He also holds the position of chairman of TTC (The Travel Corporation), South Africa, a prominent global travel association. A noted international business professional, Gavin is a native of South Africa and graduated with a degree in Finance from The American University. He is a credited CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) and lives in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Makings of Trafalgar Tours
Gavin Tollman's successful career started out in the hotel business when he first held the position of Executive VP of the Buckhead Hotel Management Company in 1987. Gavin joined Trafalgar Tours USA as President in 1997. His noted successes within the company (transforming Trafalgar into the US's largest European tour operator), led to his new post as CEO of Trafalgar Tours in 2010. Trafalgar Tours is recognized as one of the largest and most successful tour operators in the world. The company was established in 1947 and employs a global staff of over 500. Trafalgar is best known for its wide range of personalized destination travel around the world, and its expertise in holiday packages to the USA, Canada, South America, UK, Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Over the years, Gavin Tollman has successfully led Trafalgar Tours with his entrepreneurial spirit and vision; he is often credited for much of the company's success. Tollman describes the company with two words, "aspiring" and "insider", whereby he wants his unique brand of travel to be a veritable journey and experience — "beyond the imagination". The strong Trafalgar brand strives to deliver an experiential product that is based on insider knowledge and the desire to "touch the heart and move the soul", according to Tollman. Trafalgar is currently working to expand and enhance its product offering to include cruise vacations and tailored family tour programs.
New Opportunities in China
With the China travel market blossoming before his eyes, Gavin Tollman is catching a unique opportunity to offer carefully planned tours especially created for the new Chinese tourist. The inbound and outbound tour packages take into account the special needs and desires of the Chinese tourist and gives them the chance to see destinations they have never seen. The Chinese tourism industry is increasing to the tune of 30% per year now and expected to overtake the position of being the second largest tourism market in the world in the coming years.
Gavin Tollman is also chairman of The Travel Corporation (TTC) South Africa, a private company dedicated to global tours and tourism. TTC incorporates more than 25 worldwide travel and tourism companies including operators, selected venues and related services. TTC caters to over one million customers each year, manages over forty representative offices and employs over 4000 employees.
In Support of South Africa
Under the auspices of South African Tourism (SAT), TTC established a strategic venture promoting year‐long tourism to South Africa, Tollman's country of birth. "Destination South Africa" is geared towards enhancing global awareness and building the local tourism market, coupled with TTC's strong support of several charitable causes in the region. Amongst the activities is "Project Wendy House". During a recent company conference in South Africa, TTC employees helped to build over 20 homes for families in need near Cape Town, in an effort to strengthen philanthropic activities and business ventures in the country.
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