Midweek catch-up with Experience Co’s Amanda Byrne

This week, Experience Co’s general manager for commercial operations showed us her best kitchen dance moves, while regaling us with stories of the stary, stary skies of Nowra.

What’s your main goal for this year?

Travel through borders! Lots of borders!! Pretty simply, just enjoy and appreciate life as all our freedoms return.

What’s your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?

The people. So many smart, inspiring, down to earth, fun, hilarious and supportive people.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Hiking and exploring our big beautiful backyard, stand up paddleboarding, reading a book under a tree, dancing in my kitchen!

Have you managed to do any travelling since restrictions began to ease (domestic or international)?

A beautiful trip to Kangaroo Valley with my kids, kayaking on the river, Treetops Adventure Nowra, starry, starry skies and a good campfire! Also a fun break with my girlfriends on the Central Coast, hiking, swimming and cocktails (not all at the same time!).

What’s your favourite travel company, besides the one you work for?

I have always admired Intrepid Travel for their commitment to sustainable travel, and how they used the downtime of the pandemic to double down their efforts by setting emission reduction targets.

If you could invite three famous guests (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you choose?

David Bowie, Tina Fey & Robin Williams (I like to laugh!).

What’s something positive you’ve witnessed or experienced since the global pandemic hit?

The ability to pivot and change things. Not everything needs to or should stay the same. Also being more spontaneous, because you never know what tomorrow will bring!

What’s your advice for others in the travel industry on coping with the global pandemic?

If you’re not already, reach out and connect with your tourism peers. Everyone is doing it tough, but there is support, empathy, inspiration, humour and good listeners in the tourism tribe!

What book and/or TV show can you not get enough of lately?

Julia Baird’s Phospeherence- so beautiful. Also loving Pam and Tommy for a bit of 90s nostalgia!

Do you have any travel goals for 2022?

Sooooo many! Top 3 – Japan, Tassie and New Zealand.