Small business on world stage

By Matt Romania

A local travel agency had a strong French connection with the recent Women’s World Cup Soccer, and it wasn’t just organising the flights.

Headed by Mt Egerton resident Elsa Bonnet, the Moorabool Shire small business was charged with supplying travel services to the families and administrators of France’s women’s national football team.

In a competitive market, Cartier World Travel Ballan was against some large Australian heavyweights, which saw Ms Bonnet successful in the tender process, having travelled to the French Federation of Football (FFF) headquarters in Lyon to hand-deliver and present the document.

When Ms Bonnet returned to Australia, her team commenced the hard work.

“We organised coaches, tours, a webpage for the travellers to cities they were traveling to, limousine transfers, activities, meals, a 24/7 help line and many other requirements,” she said.

The event required three of Cartier’s French speaking staff to be on the project for three weeks, with the behind-the-scenes team providing the logistics to be followed up and put into place. This was headed up by the Group Manager Lesley Vass, Bus and Coach Manager Deb Morse, Lily McConnel, Kate Molesworth and Alison Riedel. The runner was Ms Bonnet’s husband, Dave Nickels.

“The project took the team to Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, back to Brisbane and back to Sydney,” he told the Moorabool News.

“As it was a moving target, many days saw a 3.00am to 4.00am finish.”
Although the French team, knocked out by Australia, did not progress into the final, what was apparent is the exceptional behind-the-scenes efforts of Cartier World Travel, a Moorabool Shire small business operating on the world stage – a critical piece of the World Cup, which isn’t shown by the television cameras or given much credit.

“Right through to the end where the team’s truck neglected to arrive to pick up their equipment (which was controlled by FIFA), we stepped in to supply a 12-tonne truck and driver,” Mr Nickels said.

It is clear Cartier World Travel is certainly not your regular ‘run of the mill’ travel agent. They’re also one of only a few throughout Australia, licenced and accredited to provide inbound travel services (bringing international travellers from overseas to Australia), local and international domestic travel, as well as providing travel services.

“Cartier can always beat the prices of the faceless websites that forget you once the online money has been paid,” Ms Bonnet said who was eager to break the myth that travel agents are more expensive than online.

“It’s simply not true,” she said.

“It’s like going to the supermarket, you can buy the pre-packaged fruit which is chosen for you and very expensive or you go the fruit and veggie store and pick the size of the fruit, the amount of the fruit and what suits you. Thus, you get what you want, the price you wish to pay with great quality.”

Cartier World Travel is located at 116c Inglis Street, Ballan and further information can be found on their website – www.cartierworldtravel.com