Lisa is a Global Brand Ambassador for Insight Vacations, as well as an actor, activist, philanthropist and twitter extraordinaire – but she managed to squeeze in a chat with Travel Weekly.
The challenge for the industry is… I guess balancing expectations with serendipity. It’s hard to control all the aspects of travel and the point is to create the perfect circumstances for the unexpected to happen!
The things I like about my job… spreading the joy of travel and specifically initiating travellers to India and the wonders of the nation for travellers of all backgrounds.
And the frustrations are … providing a balanced view of modern India and overcoming stereotypes and skewed perceptions.
If I didn’t work in travel I would be… vagabond. I’d find a way to travel. I’m lucky I’m doing everything I aspired to do when I was a young girl.
Favourite airline? Emirates and Cathay Pacific.
My proudest moment was… have had a lot of highs, but I suppose I’m proudest that the I have learnt and grown from the lows.
I try to relax by… just being. In the mountains, by the ocean, at a friend’s hideaway, the key is to power off for a day or two.
The last time I feared for my life was… when I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer in 2009.
If I can, I always try to avoid…superficial small talk.
I really wish I had… a non-toxic mosquito repellent that really, really works!
The best advice I’ve ever received was… to be kind, always…if faced with a choice between being right and being kind, choose kindness. It’s the ultimate religion. Oh and also to put a little sugar in the tomato sauce to cut the acidity…as this advice was delivered by my Italian spiritual mother over cooking lessons I got two bits of advice for the price of one!
I don’t understand why people… don’t dare to dream. Big.
My greatest weakness is… food.
And my greatest strength is… my husband and my family.
If I was prime minister I would… hire a crack team comprising of poets, philosophers as well as management consultants to run India.
If I won $1 million on the lottery I would… invest it in a National Cancer Patient Advocacy group in India, connecting patients with emotional and financial resources.
If I could be someone else for one day I would be a… Tibetan lama.
I’ve always wanted to travel to… Susan Sontage said: I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.
My favourite holiday was… Ubud, Bali.
Follow Lisa on Instagram at @lisaraniray and @lisaraniray.
