Randall Deer – Managing Director of Ignite Travel Group – is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur who has yielded exceptional success and growth for his innovative travel and tourism marketing company as he continues to challenge traditional travel practices.
After completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance & Accounting) at the University of Adelaide at the age of 23, Randall assumed the position of Body Corporate Manager with Ernest Body Corp Management where he managed over 2000 strata titled dwellings.
From there, Randall became General Manager of Australia’s largest privately owned management rights entity Strand Resorts, while at the same time representing the Australian Management Rights Industry to the Australian Taxation Office to secure the correct taxation treatment for serviced and strata titled apartments when the new GST system came into effect.
This successful lobbying subsequently saved consumers and strata title unit stakeholders millions of dollars.
At 27, Randall progressed to the coveted position of Chief Financial Officer of Breakfree Resorts where, among other accomplishments, successfully led a bid to raise $60million in IPO (debit and equity) to purchase 23 initial resorts which became the core of Stella Hospitality Group, now known as Mantra Group (a subsidiary of MFS and a $2 billion ASX entity). Randall’s key responsibilities included IPO management and financial compliance.
In 2005, Randall established what is today Ignite Travel Group (formerly RewardsCorp Group), and in eight years since its inception, has grown the lucrative company into a $85million business. Ignite Travel Group is a multi-channelled travel-marketing corporation that comprises two business divisions: RewardsCorp and The Holiday Centre (now renamed Ignite Holidays), who is also the parent company of the awarded My Holiday Centre and Group Buying Escapes.
Testament to the company’s upwardly mobile philosophy, which is inspired by innovation, The Holiday Centre, was named as BRW’s Fastest Growing Travel Business in 2011, 2012 and 2013 plus ranked highly amongst the Top 100 across all industries nationally for these years.
In 2011, Randall recognised the rapidly evolving online buying phenomenon driven by social networking sites and launched a new concept brand, Group Buying Escapes now re-branded to Holiday Exclusives.
Ignite Travel Group employs over 100 staff and continues to progress into a global player in the travel-marketing sphere. Its head office is located on the Gold Coast, Queensland; a satellite office in Sydney and logistics support office operated in the Philippines.
Randall’s vision is to continue to leverage the business’ core competencies into incremental vertical channels and expand its national and international presence; transforming both existing and original travel and tourism ideas into working models with vast consumer appeal.