Kim Herd and Nicky Tilsley partnered to pursue their joint passion of incentive groups and conferencing. They have over 50 years of experience between them, with Kim having started in the incentive industry with Bonaventure Palmerston North in 1990 before shifting into retail with United Travel. She moved to Auckland to open her own United Travel office in 1995, sold her Birkenhead retail office in 2001 and has since operated as Venture Travel & Events specialising in incentive and group travel.

Nicky has a background in hotels and incentive conference management, starting with Sheraton Hotels in 1990 before breaking away to work for an incentive client for a number of years. She then moved back to the sales and marketing side of the industry, working on marketing and training programmes, before partnering with Kim to manage groups and events for Venture Travel.

They have worked together for almost 20 years and are both passionate about travel and creating the right fit for their clients.

For Kim, some of the highlights over the years, were having the Pyramids of Giza specially lit for a group, having the full royal procession with the Maharaja in India coming to meet the group in a palace, using a multi-millionaire’s private villa as a gala night venue in Marrakesh, dessert arriving via traditionally clad Vietnamese ladies appearing on China Beach - it’s all about the element of surprise and delight and there have been some incredible nights.

Nicky’s highlights have extended to working with participants in Fijian village schools to install lighting, plant garden beds and paint classrooms as well as taking a group to a zulu village creche where some worked on extending power to the classroom while others entertained the children - these littlies had never seen a balloon before! Trips can include the luxury along with working and having fun with the local people to help out just a little.

We become part of our client’s team. Participants get to know us well before they travel because we’re often dealing with their sales progress and also often booking their private extension travel. We build up a rapport so when we come to deliver the programme it’s like greeting old friends.