Travel Weekly met the delightful Louise Casha at a recent trade event and couldn’t think of a better person to kick off our new series, Spotlight on Travel Advisers.

Warm, articulate and brimming with enthusiasm, Louise, from Embrace Travel and Cruise in Rossmore, NSW, represents the heart of what makes this industry thrive – genuine connection, creativity, and care. And she is raising seven children on top of that, including a special needs child. Her specialty is to help families/individuals with special needs when travelling including accessible travel.

From teaching to travel

George Clooney was the unexpected catalyst in Louise’s transition from a 25-year teaching career into the world of travel.

“He popped up on my feed saying that as we age, we’ll regret the chances we didn’t take more than the ones we did. That really stopped me in my tracks,” she says. A long-time lover of travel, Louise admits she’s always been more excited about planning a holiday than anything else – even her own wedding! “The anticipation, the planning, the road trip pit stops… I’ve loved it all since I was a little girl.”

The tipping point came after returning from a meticulously planned family trip to Disneyland in 2023. “I felt lost without an itinerary to work on,” she says. So, she enrolled in a Certificate III in Travel through TAFE NSW, blending her innate planning skills with her lifelong passion. Louise’s background in education deeply informs how she approaches her clients today. “In teaching, you’re constantly differentiating, catering to individual learning needs. That same mindset applies to modern travellers – they expect personalisation,” she explains.

At Embrace Travel and Cruise, Louise takes time to understand each client’s hopes and expectations, seeing herself not just as a planner, but as someone who helps shape their journeys – much like she once did in the classroom.

“The start of the planning process is the most creatively energising part,” Louise says. “Dreaming up unique travel moments with clients is a joy – but then comes the Jenga-like logistics.”

Aligning flights with tours, accounting for time zones, and ensuring smooth transitions all require precision. “One small change can topple the whole structure. That’s why I double and triple check – it’s got to work in real time.”

One of the trickier aspects of retraining was adapting to remote learning. “I’ve always loved being in a classroom, learning from passionate educators,” she admits. “But the TAFE team were incredibly supportive, and learning things like airfare systems felt like picking up a whole new language.”

That persistence has already paid off. Louise recalls helping a family of five book a stay in an exclusive Singapore resort that seemed unable to accommodate them. “Online, the room options didn’t work. But I called the hotel directly, asked the right questions, and saved them thousands. That’s the benefit of working with a travel adviser – we become your advocate.”

Louise has quickly embraced the travel industry’s rich learning culture, immersing herself in trade events and webinars. “There’s a strong sense of community and constant learning,” she says. But coming from outside the industry has its perks, too. “Sometimes I ask the ‘naïve’ questions – things others assume clients already know. It’s helped me stay grounded in how I communicate.”

Her focus? Cutting through jargon and having authentic conversations that build trust.

Her advice to those considering a career in travel?

For those considering a move into travel, Louise has two pieces of advice: “Find a great Australian-based hosting agency – I’ve been lucky to work with Les and the team at Your Travel and Cruise. Their support has been invaluable. And secondly, dive into self-learning. There’s so much free destination training out there – it’s a goldmine for new consultants.”

Louise sees a future where AI will assist – but not replace – what travel advisers offer. “AI can help with logistics, but it doesn’t care if your trip changed your life or if the hotel surprised your kids with a birthday cake. Travel is about connection – and that’s deeply human.”

For Louise, that human touch is at the heart of everything. “Travel nourishes the soul, whether it’s through nature, culture, or time with loved ones. I feel incredibly lucky to help people experience that.”