Midweek Catch-up with Globus family of brands’ Melinda Wouda

This week, we sat down with Globus family of brands’ business development manager for VIC to talk all things travel, Project Runway and Elvis. Don’t question it, just read on.

What’s your main goal for this year?

My main goal is to visit as many people as possible – both personally and professionally. The pandemic taught us all how powerful human connection can be, so despite “seeing” everyone via Zoom or Teams – it has been incredible to get out there and see the team and our trade partners in the flesh.

To be doing our training in person and seeing the positive reception of our new GFOB product has been amazing.

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

Your bucket list is ever-expanding! Just when you thought you’d ticked off a few places, you hear of another incredible destination that you just have to add to your list.

That’s one of the highlights of working for GFOB, we’re constantly developing new itineraries that visit new ports, towns and cities, so I’m always being inspired and introduced to incredible places like Daly Waters in the Northern Territory.

I’d never dreamt of driving through the outback in Australia but recently got the chance to visit on our Cosmos Top End & Central Australia Explorer.

I was lucky enough to travel from Darwin to Uluru and see some places that I just can’t wait to get back to now!

How do you like to spend your free time?

I can’t sit still, so I’m always active – whether that be at the gym, playing with my beautiful children or hitting the dance floor.

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

My family and I just returned from Hawaii which was sensational! Waikiki was buzzing with plenty of tourists.

It was amazing to see so many people out there and exploring again after the two years that we’ve just had, it felt like travel never stopped.

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

Richard Branson seems like a lot of fun, and that fun appears to filter through to all of the teams at Virgin – so it would have to be the Virgin Group in some shape, way or form.

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

After watching the new Elvis movie, it would be incredible to have Elvis in the building and sit down for a chat. Rebel Wilson and Matt Lucas apparently used to be flatmates in LA – now they would have had some funny dinner parties I’d love to be part of!

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

People come first. Previously we were all caught up on the never-ending ‘hamster wheel’, the pandemic taught us to slow down and reassess what is most important in our lives.

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

Just remind yourself of where we were this time last year and appreciate the surge of demand for travel currently.

Work through a to-do list to feel accomplished and set realistic expectations with your clients and colleagues.

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

Project Runway – I love watching their creativity and seeing the designers weave their magic. Kate Langbroek’s book ‘Ciao Bella – Six Take Italy’ was great too, added Bologna in Italy to my bucket list.

Do you have any travel goals for 2022?

It’s been fantastic reigniting the passion for river cruising and guided touring with so many agents recently, so I would love to take a group away on an Avalon Waterways cruise so they can experience it too.

Ideally, I would love to showcase our Active & Discovery on the Rhine cruise from Basel to Amsterdam – it has a great mix of history, culture and plenty of activities.