The challenge for the industry is… to remember we need to work as a team to ensure our customer has the best experience possible. Wherever you currently are in this industry – retail, wholesale, supplier, hotelier, etc – the way we interact with each other must keep the customer, our end-user if you will, front of mind.
The things I like about my job are… the autonomy to choose who I deal with – the freedom this brings me is exciting.
And the frustrations… probably comes back to the first answer – sometimes the industry doesn’t play nice. Let’s remember the other person on the end of that call or email is a professional in the industry too. We should be a team working together on behalf of our client.
If I didn’t work in travel… I would be aimlessly wandering the world, actually travelling!
Qantas or Virgin? Qantas – I’ve been saving up my Frequent Flyer points for years waiting for the A380 to whisk me away somewhere exotic!
My proudest moment was… opening my own travel agency after biding my time in retail and wholesale for other people. I thought I could run my own business and now it’s a reality.
The naughtiest thing I ever did… was being one of those girls who buys the latest ‘must have’ dress for that evening’s event and then returns it the following day – so out of character for me. I wouldn’t dare try that again!
I try to relax by… going on the wellness holidays that I sell all day to other lucky people. Otherwise, a long run on the foreshore works wonders.
The last time I feared for my life was… in the Indian town of Orcha. I’d walked halfway along a narrow roadbridge when an interstate bus (with an extremely loud musical horn) thought it would try to take me on… Either jump into the raging waters or cling onto the bus to take me to the other side…
If I can, I always try to avoid… shopping centres on weekends.
I really wish I had… kept the fluent German I spoke until I replaced it with English so I could go to school here.
The best advice I’ve ever received was… “You are the maker of your own destiny”. Reminding myself of this keeps me persistent and purposeful.
I don’t understand why… some people don’t ever leave their birthplace.
My greatest weakness… professionally is thinking I’ve got the booking before I actually do and personally, chocolate!
And my greatest strength… is my self-belief.
If I was prime minister… I would facilitate more women in positions of power.
If I won $1 million on the lottery… I would set up a base in Europe, probably the Swiss Alps, so I’m close to the chocolate.
If I could be someone else for one day… I would be my husband, so I would really know what he likes and doesn’t like once and for all.
I’ve always wanted to travel to… Costa Rica – a yoga retreat in the rainforest.
My favourite holiday was… a two year working holiday round the world – so glad I did it when I had the chance.
