The challenge for the industry is… Communicating with customers at the right time in the right medium with the right deal. Every customer is different but simple things like posting hot airfare deals on Facebook as soon as they’re available and ensuring emails sent on weekends are easy to read on mobile devices, are two examples of how important it is to get the timing and medium right.
The things I like about my job are… Working with creative and talented people. The lastminute lovelies are an amazing group of marketers to work with. We’re a little different from other travel sites, in that we cover all things lifestyle too. So not only do we get to see the best deals on hotels, flights, car hire and travel insurance, we’ve also got activities, restaurants, wine and gifts to play with. There’s no chance of getting bored!
And the frustrations… My bucket list of places to visit and things to do just keeps piling up.
If I didn’t work in travel I would be a… Lot richer…and a bit less interesting.
Qantas or Virgin? I mix it up, but I started flying with Virgin for the prices and am now always trying to get points.
My proudest moment was… Launching the lastminute.com.au blog, www.liveeverylastminute.com.au. It’s such a great medium for us to share our travel knowledge and experiences with our customers and add a lot more personality to our products and brand.
The naughtiest thing I ever did was… Sneak backstage at a Cat Empire concert in Thailand and meet the band. Woop!
I try to relax by… Reading. I am a big bookworm nerd. It works well with beach holidays.
The last time I feared for my life… I had a little panic attack while diving through a cave in Koh Tao, Thailand. I used nearly all of my air but made it, through the rest of the dive. Phew!
If I can, I always try to avoid… Down-time at airports. I’m scarily good at taking hand luggage only, checking in the day before and arriving just in time for the boarding call. It’s a skill.
I really wish I had… A teleporter so I could have more time on each holiday… and a cat.
The best advice I’ve ever received was… Worry is wasted energy.
I don’t understand why… Pants are sometimes optional. Tights are not pants, ladies.
My greatest weakness is… Food. The recent addition of restaurant bookings on lastminute.com.au hasn’t helped things!
And my greatest strength… Keeping a secret. Our engagement party in September was in fact a surprise wedding! Secret Hotels are our biggest sellers on lastminute.com.au so you could say I’m very good at living the brand.
If I was prime minister I would… Legalise gay marriage.
If I won $1 million on the lottery… I would buy a house in the countryside in France, drink champagne, learn French and eat croissants every day. Oooh la laaa.
If I could be someone else for one day I would be… Eva Mendes so I could go out on a date with Ryan Gosling. Sorry husband.
I’ve always wanted to travel to… South America. It’s on the list and moving to the top quickly.
My favourite holiday was… Ratua Private Island in Vanuatu. Think amazingly beautiful scenery, snorkeling from the back of your private villa and sunbaking on the deck chairs. Am-ah-zing.
