Travel has always being in my soul. My parents moved to Australia in the late 1960’s – my mum is from Wales and my dad is from Kenya, which meant my brothers and I grew up travelling overseas to see our relatives – who affectionately called us their Convict family.
After completing my Business degree at Charles Sturt University, I worked at The Lakeside Canberra in many areas, including Reception, Reservations and Conference Sales, before relocating to Sydney in early 2000 (via a year on the Gold Coast) to work at Matilda Cruises and Featherdale Wildlife Park (while Rydges still owned them) as the Sales Manager looking after the Inbound market. I then moved to Rydges head office as their National Sales Manager – Inbound looking after all of their hotels, wildlife park, cruise company and catering company. This is where my passion for Australian product started as I came into contact with so many amazingly talented sales people who were so proud (and rightly so) of the product they represented. Plus I met David, and his profile tells our story!
One of my clients, ATS Pacific, took a leap of faith in me and I became their General Manager – Product for nearly 10 years, further falling in love with our amazing country. I then returned to hotels for 4 years working for IHG in Sydney as Director of Sales & Marketing across a number of properties.
Travel continues to be a huge passion for David and I, and our children have greatly benefited from this! Travel broadens their young minds, shapes their perceptions and opens opportunities for their future. As Mark Twain once said “ Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
