One of the legends of the South African travel industry, Terry Munro, has announced his retirement after close to 38 years of service.
Munro, the highly respected and much-loved industry leader and MD of Beachcomber Tours has confirmed that he will be succeeded by Gary Mulder, CEO of the Club Travel Group since January 2020.
Munro is confident that the culture that has prevailed at Beachcomber Tours since its inception in the early 1980s will continue under the leadership of its new Managing Director. He added that Mulder had been a long-time friend of Beachcomber Tours.
Mulder is a chartered accountant and brings with him vast experience in the travel industry, strong financial acumen, as well as a deep appreciation of Beachcomber Tours’ core values: that of being a true partner to the travel agent, and maintaining a strong client focus at all times. He will take up his new position on April 1.
Mulder will be supported by fellow directors, Silvana Polo and Joanne Visagie, in charge of operations, and sales and marketing respectively, as well as the rest of the Beachcomber Tours’ management team.
“I have always maintained that I have the best job and I wholeheartedly still believe this today. I have so enjoyed my time in marketing the Beachcomber resorts to the southern African market sector and it has brought me immense pleasure to see the Beachcomber brand enjoy such significant growth in southern Africa over the last four decades.
“The support I have received from Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels’ executive management in Mauritius has always been exceptional, as well as from the various hotel managers, the Mautourco team, and the airlines. For this I am exceedingly thankful, and I am certain Gary will enjoy the same excellent relationships I have known all these years,” said Munro.
Mulder said he had not been looking to leave Club Travel. “After 23 years, Club Travel has become a huge part of my life and I love the people, the culture, the customers, the partners, and the suppliers. When Terry approached me to consider taking over from him it was obviously a huge honour and came with many hours of serious consideration. Terry is a legend and probably the most respected person in the South African travel industry, so it is an honour, a privilege, and also a challenge to take over from him and ensure that Beachcomber continues to be the brilliant business that he has built up,” said Mulder.
Mulder leaves Club Travel at a time when it has seen its best results ever and growth of more than 50% on pre-COVID levels. “I have no doubt Club Travel will continue to deliver brilliant products and services to customers and partners. The industry is dynamic with constant change and evolution and the Club team is well equipped to continue to thrive as a significant player,” he said.
“The Beachcomber team has a very strong and experienced leadership team and together I know we will continue forging the great path that Terry has set Beachcomber on.”
Beachcomber’s management team expressed profound gratitude for the incredible care with which Munro has always led, in particular throughout the COVID period of 20 months during which Terry refused to make any staff cuts in spite of the fact that the company had no income during the pandemic. Polo said he left a legacy second to none and she and Visagie are tremendously grateful to Munro for his leadership over the course of their respective careers at Beachcomber. Both directors pledge their full support to Mulder from April 1.
