(L to R) Russell Butler (Travel Industry Manager, Avis Australia),  Jackie Martin (Travel Account Manager, Avis Australia), 2012 Avis Scholarship winner Bettiann Gain, Greg Petersen (Director, Sales & Marketing Avis Budget Group) and Jenny Lorkin (National Agency Sales Manager, Avis Australia).
	2012 Avis Scholarship winner Bettiann Gain (MTA Travel) and Professor Elizabeth Roberts, Head of School, Tourism & Hospitality Management, Southern Cross University.
	Finalists - (L to R) 2012 Avis Scholarship winner Bettiann Gain (MTA Travel), Leanne McGovern (MTA Travel), Marica Salpietro (Peregrine Adventures), Professor Elizabeth Roberts (Southern Cross University), Jennifer Anderseck (American Express Business Travel) and Illaina Van Veen (Corporate Traveller).
	Dean Howarth (Manager Multinational Sales, Qantas), Avis Scholarship winner Bettiann Gain (MTA Travel) and Adele Sheers (Manager Strategies and Planning, Industry and Leisure Sales, Qantas)

Second mobile travel agent to win prestigious customer service award

MTA Travel consultant Bettiann Gain is the newest member of the travel industry’s most exclusive club after being named the 2012 recipient of the Avis Travel Agent Scholarship (www.avisscholarship.com).

Queensland-based Gain was officially announced as this year's winner at a ceremony held last night at Sydney’s Four Seasons Hotel. She becomes only the 16th recipient of the annual award, which recognises and rewards travel agents committed to the highest standards of customer service.

The 2012 Scholarship is valued at more than $40,000, with Gain receiving:

• two Qantas Business Class return tickets to New York
• six nights’ luxury hotel accommodation in Manhattan
• seven days’ car rental from Avis
• a first-year tourism scholarship to study at Southern Cross University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, with financial support of up to $10,000 towards the first year of a three-year Bachelor of Tourism Management course**
• four cruise training modules from the International Cruise Council Australasia
• a Polonious Resources Personal Profile, Feedback Session and on-call personal/professional coaching for 12 months
• admission into the TIME (Travel Industry Mentor Experience) mentoring program
• a one-year honorary position on the Avis Travel Agents Advisory Board
• a tour of Avis’ World Headquarters in New Jersey and site visits to US travel agencies.

Avis Travel Industry Manager Russell Butler said Gain demonstrated three key attributes essential to any advocate of excellent customer service.

“Bettiann shows enormous empathy towards her clients, she takes personal responsibility for every aspect of their journey and she is both determined and highly-creative when it comes to overcoming problems,” says Butler.

“The Scholarship judging panel were also impressed by her desire to embrace the career development opportunities provided by the Avis Scholarship in order to continue expanding her knowledge and skills.”

The 2012 winner was chosen from five finalists, all of whom presented to members of the Avis Travel Agents Advisory Board during yesterday’s final judging session in Sydney.

This year’s finalists included:

• Jennifer Anderseck, American Express Business Travel (Victoria)

• Leanne McGovern, MTA Travel (Queensland)

• Marica Salpietro, Peregrine Adventures (Retail) (Victoria)

• Illaina Van Veen, Corporate Traveller (Queensland)

All will now receive a personal online behavioural profile and consultation session with a Polonious Resources business coach.