Nicola Veltman Leaves 1000 Mile Travel Group
The travel business co-founder is departing after nearly 12 years, handing leadership to her team.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Business Travel
Nicola Veltman, co-founder of 1000 Mile Travel Group, has announced she is leaving the business after nearly 12 years. She made the announcement in a LinkedIn post, saying she is handing the baton to her team.
Why it matters
Veltman co-founded the group in 2014 as a two-person startup, and it has since grown into a network serving more than 750 independent contractors following its 2022 acquisition by Corporate Travel Management. Her exit marks a leadership transition for a business that expanded across Australia, the UK and the US.
Veltman announced her departure in a LinkedIn post after nearly 12 years with the business. The network was set to serve more than 750 independent contractors following the July 2022 acquisition by Corporate Travel Management, though the acquisition terms were not disclosed.
The players
Nicola Veltman
Co-founder of 1000 Mile Travel Group who built the business from a two-person startup into an international host agency network over nearly 12 years.
1000 Mile Travel Group
An international travel host agency that launched in 2014 and expanded into the UK, US and Australia before its acquisition by Corporate Travel Management.
Corporate Travel Management
A corporate travel company that acquired 1000 Mile Travel Group in July 2022, combining the two networks.
The details
Veltman's career began as a freelance travel writer and later moved into the industry at Flight Centre in Melbourne. She and Ben Ross launched 1000 Mile Travel Group in 2014, adding a host agency in Australia, the UK and the US, and entering the UK market in 2017.
Timeline
2014: Veltman and Ben Ross launch 1000 Mile Travel Group as a two-person startup.
2017: The group enters the UK market.
July 2022: Corporate Travel Management acquires the group.
Early February 2025: The group marks its 10th anniversary with a conference in Hong Kong.
November 4, 2026: Veltman announces her departure on LinkedIn.
Business Travel Landscape
The departure follows the July 2022 acquisition of 1000 Mile Travel Group by Corporate Travel Management, which placed the independent host agency within a larger corporate travel company. The change reflects consolidation among travel host agencies that have grown from small startups into multinational networks.
Independent contractors and clients working with 1000 Mile Travel Group should watch for leadership announcements from the team Veltman is handing the business to. Travelers booking through the network should monitor for any changes to service or contacts as the transition progresses.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at travel host agencies can affect the independent contractors who depend on them, so following official announcements from the business is the best way to track what changes next.
What happens next
Veltman has said she will share where her next journey starts over the coming months, and she plans to reconnect with industry contacts during that period.
Further reading
For more on how corporate and independent travel networks are organized, explore the Business Travel section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Travel Weekly.
