Jason Kroupa wins top NZ travel industry award

December 7th, 2012
[Press release]

Motueka House of Travel owner/operator Jason Kroupa has been awarded New Zealand's Travel Agent of the Year – an honour which recognises his 30% jump in sales and strategic use of technology to export his service offering.

Jason credits his success to the teamwork he enjoys with his wife and business partner Linda Kroupa. "Linda and I opened House of Travel Motueka from scratch in 1995 when I was just 25 and Linda 22 years old. I honestly could not do my job without Linda at my side.

"We have worked every day together for 17 years and are continually bouncing ideas off each other. Together we have built a successful Travel Agency with a 'dream team' of experienced Travel Consultants that make me proud every day."

Linda and Jason are hard bossess to work for at times, says Danielle Hennessy, a senior consultant at House of Travel Motueka. "They are perfectionists when it comes to people's holidays. Only the best customer service will do. But we are always having fun."

Jason also acknowledges several mentors such as House of Travel veterans Janine Bowman, Julie Bohnenn and Paul Otway, as well as House of Travel founder Chris Paulsen.

"It was extremely fortunate that when Linda and I returned from our Big O.E. Chris convinced us that we should work for ourselves rather than someone else. It is one of the best decisions that we ever made," says Jason.

Starting up at such a young age, they also appreciate the help they received from friends and family. "Our dads especially instilled in us both a strong work ethic and an empathy to put ourselves in our customers shoes.

Many in the industry wonder how Jason can operate such a busy travel company out of a small town of just 7,000 people. "It is a rule of business that it is a necessity to grow. We are fortunate that modern technology has made it simpler to grow a significant percentage of our clientele from around the country and all over the world," he says.

"We have many satisfied customers from all corners of New Zealand and several that live in Australia, the UK and Europe. People that have struggled to find a travel agent in a big city that actually listens to them."

Listening is a talent that Jason feels is essential for a good Travel Agent. "It would be easy to just book everyone on the same old holiday - but the skill is to ask the right questions and listen to what a customer really wants from their holiday - that is the key.

"Then it is my job to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, adding the insights and suggestions that I have from years of my own experience combined with the opinions and feedback from my many other customers to create the best travel experience possible especially for that particular customer.

"Every traveller is unique, so their holidays should be as well." Jason then ensures that the airlines, hotels and tours are safe and secure and that his customers pay the right price.

A few weeks prior to departure Jason sits down with every customer and runs through their itinerary day by day, walking them through the airport procedures and taking a bit of extra time adding maps so customers can find their hotels easily, looking up approximate cost of taxis and offering dining suggestions at local restaurants.

"Using the lessons that an experienced Travel Agent has already learned for themselves can save you hundreds of dollars, hours of wasted time and is often the difference between a good trip and a great one!"

And you get Jason while you are away too! "I give all of my customers my contact number and tell them they can call me any time day or night if they need me. I would much rather help out and lend my assistance to a customer in need than find out too late when they get home that they had had a bad holiday."

Jason reckons that he has the best job in the whole world. "It's not always easy, there is a lot of stress and long hours, but at the end of the day, we are working with really interesting clients, helping them to achieve their dreams - what could be better than that?"

The Travel Digest Travel Industry awards acknowledge and recognise excellence in the travel and tourism industry. Travel and tourism agency professionals, travel wholesalers, travel colleges, tour and hospitality companies and tourism organisations throughout New Zealand all voted for their chosen candidate.

[Note: Motueka House of Travel is a sponsor of Motueka Online.]

Comment by Shirley Frater:
[Posted 8 December 2012]

Congratulations Jason & Linda. Proves that best quality cream always rises to the top.

Comment by Patsy O'Shea:
[Posted 9 December 2012]

So proud of Jason and Linda - not only professional but friendly and likeable as well. Have had the pleasure of having them help me with travel for many years now and have always been impressed with their thoroughness and genuine interest in their customer's plans. Well done indeed, this a well-deserved reward for all that commitment.

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