19 May 2025 – Sydney, Australia
Linkd Tourism, United Airlines and Brand USA have announced the final six winners of their Ul-TRI-mate incentive with the successful travel agents securing a spot on a 12-day adventure across some of the USA’s premier destinations.
Over 500 agents participated in the incentive over the 2-month campaign and the Ul-TRI-mate fam places for top sellers went to:
- Brayden Kemble, Ignite Travel Group, Brisbane, Australia
- Hayley Lyson, italk Travel, Sydney, Australia
- Swapnil Bhate, Flight Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
Linkd Tourism Strategic Director, Michael Cassis, said the success of the incentive demonstrated the enduring attraction of the US for Australian and New Zealander travellers: “As the regional trade office for Arizona, Colorado, New York State, Seattle and Anaheim, we’re always looking for ways that our destinations can stand out in a competitive travel environment.
“With the incredibly diverse and value-packed US travel experiences on offer and our interactive activities in market, such as industry webinars and a scavenger hunt during Visit USA’s February event, the Ul-TRI-mate Fam incentive has been immensely successful. This has been reflected, of course, through the phenomenal engagement in the incentive, and over 300 bookings logged during the qualifying period. We’d like to thank all of the agents who participated, and our amazing partners including United Airlines and Brand USA,” Cassis explained.
The other three remaining spots were also awarded in April through participation in the incentive and a 3-week webinar series hosted by Linkd Tourism and attended by over 350 agents:
- Briony Thomas, Tailored Travel & Cruise, Melbourne, Australia
- Lisa Trestrail, RAA, Adelaide, Australia
- Melanie Sherry, MTA, Sydney, Australia
Comments from the winning agents
Swapnil Bhate, Group Travel Expert, Flight Centre: “The Ul-TRI-mate fam campaign was a good motivator. I’m excited to experience the vibrant city of Seattle, and of course, Space Needle. I am thrilled and grateful to win this trip, which will be an exciting opportunity to grow, connect and explore.”
Melanie Sherry, Mobile Travel Agent: “On this fam trip, several destinations will be completely new to me, which makes the experience even more exciting and valuable from a learning perspective. I’m especially looking forward to exploring unique offerings – from the vibrant urban atmosphere and coastal scenery of Seattle, to the dramatic desert landscapes and cultural richness of Arizona. Experiencing these destinations firsthand will greatly enhance my ability to confidently sell them and provide more personalised recommendations to my clients. Winning a place on this fam trip means a great deal to me, both personally and professionally. More than anything, I feel proud, grateful, and energised – a reminder of why I love what I do.”
Jennifer Jones, Personal Travel Manager, TravelManagers: “The opportunity to potentially secure a spot on a curated USA fam trip not only enhanced my enthusiasm for selling these exciting States, but also gave me a tangible goal to work toward, which positively impacted my overall sales performance during the campaign period. I’m particularly looking forward to experiencing Colorado’s outdoor adventure offerings and iconic landscapes, as well as discovering the charm and cultural richness of Upstate New York. And who doesn’t LOVE Disneyland? As one of the most iconic and family-friendly attractions in the U.S., Anaheim is a destination many of my clients dream of visiting. This will be one of THE best fam trips I have been on in my 18-year career.”
Background information
The Ul-TRI-mate Fam itineraries will depart 1 June 2025.
- Group 1 will be jetting off for 3 nights to enjoy the urban charm of the Emerald City, from the top of the Space Needle, to the funky beats of Seattle’s grunge music scene, before travelling to Arizona for 3 epic nights exploring Flagstaff’s Route 66 charm, and the awe-inspiring wonder of the Grand Canyon.
- Group 2 will head to Colorado for 3 huge nights enjoying Denver’s urban vibe and the epic Rocky Mountains, before heading to Upstate New York to savour the Finger Lake’s world-class wineries and the awe of mighty Niagara Falls.
- All groups will come together for 3 days of play in Anaheim, California, where Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary celebrations, rooftop bars and unforgettable sporting feats await.
The winning agents will fly Economy Plus to the USA with United Airlines, which now offers services from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to over 360 destinations in the U.S.A including direct services to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston ex Australia.
Previously announced winners of the Ul-TRI-mate Fam incentive (ten winners in total have now been announced throughout the duration of the campaign):
- Nicole Young, Helloworld Travel, Burpengary, Australia
- Jennifer Jones, Travel Managers, Wahroonga, Australia
- Sarah John, Where2travel, Melbourne, Australia
- Rachelle Evans, Eastern Hill Travel, Melbourne, Australia
For images, click here.
