In 1995  she qualified as a travel agent and shortly afterwards was appointed as Travel Manager at Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN (PTY) Ltd. Her true passion in the travel industry was ignited in this role. Being able to manage the travel portfolio  and take care of her travellers’ wellbeing was everything she enjoyed.  

Subsequently,  Merrill held positions in various travel  sectors including car rental, payment solutions, insurance and travel management companies, all  adding to her overall knowledge and expertise in the industry. She has regularly featured as a guest speaker, sharing her knowledge with industry professionals and becoming well-established in the South African corporate travel industry.   

In 2013 she ventured back into the travel manager role at a large state-owned entity where it became clear how few people  understand what travel management incorporates.  

Her knowledge gleaned through her experiences have positioned Merrill as a truly global Travel Management Specialist.  Her curiosity to understand the innermost operational functions in each sector has given her the  exposure few individuals have had the privilege of acquiring.  

In April 2019, Merrill launched her own travel advisory company, choosing to focus on sharing this knowledge through the educating of companies’ decision-makers on  the complexities of travel  so they can properly manage company travel programs. These must follow procurement principles and governance best practices  to be effective and efficient.