CTM All Stars 2023: Celebrating and connecting CTM's top performers

At Corporate Travel Management (CTM), we believe in recognizing and rewarding the exceptional efforts of our employees who go above and beyond in contributing to CTM’s success, fostering a positive culture, and supporting their colleagues. This year, we were overjoyed to revive the CTM All Stars Awards following a two-year hiatus, allowing us to once again recognize and reward the contributions of our people.

In June, our global CTM All Stars Award winners from 2020 and 2023 embarked on the trip of a lifetime, celebrating their achievements with three days of Arabian experiences. Read on as we take you on a journey to our recent CTM All Stars 2023 trip to the mesmerizing city of Dubai, exploring the experiences and perspectives of our award-winning employees.

The adventure of a lifetime

A key component of the CTM All Stars experience is embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey with exclusive experiences that money cannot buy. This year, CTM’s top performers enjoyed three days of luxury in Dubai, staying at the famous Atlantis The Palm resort, where they explored the resort’s onsite aqua park and pools.

The action-packed itinerary included a private dinner and tour of the iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel and Royal Suite, tours of Old Town Dubai and the Gold Souks, a boat trip on the Dubai Creek, and exploring the Museum of the Future. Our All Stars also went on the world-famous Dubai desert safari, where they experienced a falconry show, camel rides, an exotic desert dinner and a belly dancing show. When asked about the highlights of their trip, here’s what some of our All Stars had to say:

“The private dinner at the top of the Burj Al Arab was a stand-out for me. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I know I will likely never have the opportunity to do again“, Claire Bolte, Global Head of Digital Marketing.

“The Dubai desert safari was an amazing experience and one I will not forget. The 4WD definitely got the heart racing, and the camel ride was scarier than expected. It was also lovely to try some of their local cuisine”, Mellissa Smitheram, Assistant Operational Team Manager.

“My highlight was walking into the grand ballroom in the Burj Al Arab and being completely overwhelmed by its extravagance – I can’t believe we dined there!” Ali Dowton, Marketing Manager ANZ.

The power of connection

Alongside these incredible experiences, the connections and new friendships that our All Stars formed with one another along the way have left a lasting impact. When asked how the experience helped them feel more connected to their colleagues, here’s what our All Stars shared:

“Spending time with colleagues and understanding their role and region has given me greater perceptive on their challenges”, Teslynn Conway, Client Value Manager QLD.

“Working from home, you miss the camaraderie and office banter sometimes. Going on a trip with colleagues makes you feel part of the company and valued as a team member”, Dinesh Ramamoorthy, International Travel Consultant (Boeing Travel).

“I think spending time and connecting with colleagues like this on a more personal level outside of the work environment was incredibly valuable. This trip has helped to strengthen our relationships throughout the business. There are people we have always thought of as colleagues we now think of as friends”, Claire Bolte, Global Head of Digital Marketing.

The impact of recognition

Beyond this incredible travel experience, the impact of being recognized and appreciated cannot be understated. When asked what the most rewarding aspect of being a CTM All Star was, a common thread emerged among our All Stars: recognition.

Considering the challenges our industry has faced in recent years, recognizing our people’s unwavering efforts and their incredible contributions to CTM’s continued success is more important than ever.

“It’s the sense of accomplishment unlike anything else. To feel all the hard work you’ve put in has resulted in such an amazing experience, it’s unreal,” James McDonald, Operational Team Manager.

“I feel so special and rewarded. I am so proud to work for CTM. The trip was amazing, and I am still buzzing”, Kristy Heydon, Technical Training Manager ANZ.

“Being an All Star gives me a profound sense of pride and accomplishment. It signifies recognition and validation for your exceptional performance, skills and contributions to our work at CTM. It acknowledges your hard work and dedication and affirms that your efforts have been recognized and appreciated by your peers and superiors”, Cherie Drummond, Head of Product ANZ.

What being an 'All Star' is all about

In addition to the excitement of their journey to Dubai and the new connections forged, we were curious to hear our All Stars’ message to the broader business regarding their experience.

With no shortage of incredible talent in our teams, being a CTM All Star, at its core, is about being a team player, embodying the CTM Values and going the extra mile to support those around you.

“Work hard, and your efforts will be recognized and rewarded – and the reward is sooooo worth it! Sometimes you must put yourself out there and take the risk if you want the reward! It’s not always about having your name in lights, it’s about being consistent, delivering quality consistently, being engaged in helping the team deliver the outcomes for the business, that’s what will get you recognized. And it doesn’t happen overnight!” Cherie Drummond, Head of Product ANZ.

“When you work hard, you get rewarded tenfold. I felt extremely privileged & proud to be a CTM All Star”, Sarah Tauri, Head of Client Management QLD.

“Go for it, it’s so rewarding”, Alfred Ding, Corporate Consultant.

The All Stars incentive trip to Dubai was an extraordinary journey that combined celebration, recognition and connection. It brought together our award-winning employees from across the globe to celebrate their achievements, forging new friendships and unforgettable memories. We’d like to thank our Event Travel Management (ETM) team, who meticulously designed a one-of-a-kind experience for our All Stars winners. To our All Stars, thank you for embracing every moment – we hope it was an unforgettable journey!