BCD Travel Customer Service Manager, Chris Manias

With 37 years’ experience in the corporate travel industry, BCD Travel’s Customer Service Manager, Chris Manias, is somewhat of an expert.

Based in the business travel company’s Sydney office, Chris manages hundreds of corporate travel bookings for several large companies while also supervising her multi-skilled team and coordinating internal staff procedures in BCD Travel’s three offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Her love of geography and languages gave Chris the travel bug early in life. She loves flying and has visited some wonderful global locations over the years. Among her favourites are Israel, Macchu Picchu, New York, Niagara Falls and the Rocky Mountains.

Apart from a brief stint as a Personal Assistant, Chris’ entire career has been in travel. She spent 22 years with the Bank of New South Wales/Westpac Travel (which later merged with American Express), two years with Ansett Airlines prior to its collapse in 2001 and has now spent five years with BCD Travel, the world’s third largest corporate travel agency.

Chris loves working in a fast-paced environment and enjoys negotiating change and navigating the daily challenges of corporate travel management. When she began her career, there were no computers and flights needed several re-fuelling stops to reach their destinations. She jokingly refers to a long-term ambition of “selling a ticket to outer space”.

Chris is well-respected by her team for her advanced business skills, travel industry knowledge, patience and dedication to mentoring staff and increasing efficiency. She thrives on the diverse challenges associated with corporate travel management and considers the people she works with at BCD Travel as the most enjoyable part of her job.

Chris’ professionalism and talent has been recognised several times during her career with formal accolades such as the American Express Pacesetter Award for top achievers.

In early 2008, she was given the responsibility of organising a trip to Australia for BCD Travel founder, John Fentener van Vlissengen, and his wife. Chris escorted the couple on their first tour of Australia and coordinated all of their travel and accommodation.

In her spare time, Chris jumps on a plane as often as possible, but when she is home she enjoys various small hobbies such as cross-stitching, embroidery and fishing.