Robert Aitchison Email and Phone Number

Drive private charter and sightseeing tours for school groups, seniors around Australia

Managed a group of hotels in Newcastle as well as on call manager for hotels in Brisbane, Bathurst and regional NSW.Grew occupancy even during COVID with innovative and collaborative partnerships with a range of government and non-government partners and developed successful group marketing campaigns.

Developed a cafe, catering and conference centre during Covid.During Covid I developed complete 24/7 catering delivery packages for Covid isolation accommodation across the Hunter. Then grew it into an online home delivery service. Sold the cafe in January 2023.

Delivering fruit and vegetables for an operator at Sandgate Markets. Constant night time shifts - started at 2am.

I developed and delivered coach, air, rail and sea travel packages for a 40,000 client database over two sites (Brisbane and Maitland). Managing 30 staff in Maitland and training up to 60 staff across the company, as welI as external travel agents, I created new business opportunities and analysed business systems to increase revenue and drive efficiencies. I also cooked and drove if needed! Key responsibilities• Develop, price, market and sell new tour itineraries over 700 day trips and extended tours each year, 18 months in advance.• Visit over 300 travel agents each year and organise presenting travel expos to sell the tours.• Supervise Maitland team up to 30 staff including travel agents, coach drivers, maintenance and café and conference centre staff.Achievements• Helped to integrate two separate family businesses into one professional and cohesive team operating across two states.• Delivered high level customer brand awareness and increased travel agent sales for the product. • Logistics so 1,000 passengers from Queensland and regional NSW could see the Sydney Edinburgh Tattoo.

I managed the operations of a multi-award winning tour operator, travel agency, café and conference centre, including logistics, business development, baking and operating a heavy vehicle. I grew the company from a micro business to an award winning multimillion dollar company employing 35 staff, operating seven coaches, a café and conference centre and travel agency. I developed and delivered coach, air, rail and sea travel packages for a 40,000 client database with around 30-35 staff in Maitland as welI as selling to and training external travel agents on our product, I created new business opportunities and analysed our business systems to increase revenue and drive efficiencies. I also baked Robert's famous home made morning teas and drove our tour guests! I developed, priced, marketed and sold new tour itineraries over 700 day trips and extended tours each year, 18 months in advance and supervised our Maitland team up to 30 staff including travel agents, coach drivers, maintenance and café and conference centre staff.I sold the business in November 2016 to Cross Country Tours.

From a small 16 unit country motel with no restaurant, I was integral in expanding the motel to 20 units and establish a 50 seat restaurant. While my parents delivered the coach tours, I grew the business. Key responsibilities• Grow the business from a micro business with 2 partners in Walcha to a company employing 10 staff in Maitland. • Manage succession and generational change in the family business.Achievements• Established and managed a 50 seat restaurant and coach package touring company from scratch.• Expanded 16 three star units to 20 units with a 3 ½ star rating.• Won Young Achiever Big Sky Tourism Awards 1999 and won a number of categories in the Big Sky Country Tourism Awards as well as the Northern Inland Excellence in Business Awards.• Sold the motel as a going concern and relocated the coach package tours to Maitland.• Oversaw construction of a 3 bay coach shed with kitchen and offices in Maitland. • Developed a customer relationship management database of 7,000 clients.