Meet The Travel Trio Doing It For Themselves

People often ask me what’s the best bit about working in the travel industry.

Is it travelling to exotic places? Is it experiencing new cultures? Or is it the massive salary that comes with being the managing editor of Australia’s travel magazine?

As the song goes, two out of three ain’t bad…

In all seriousness, one of the great joys of working in travel is the fascinating, dedicated and innovative people you meet within the industry.

This month I had the chance to interview three such people, each one making a mark on the travel industry in their own distinctive way.

Striking out alone can be challenging, no matter what profession you’re in. Both Debbie Rains and Holly Velardo spent several years working under the comfort blanket of corporate brands or agency owners before eventually setting up their own businesses.

I’m pleased to report that both Gallivanter Travel (Debbie) and HollyDay Travel (Holly) are thriving enterprises with a bright future ahead of them.

The same can also be said of Riad Botanica, which sounds like the Latin name for a fragrant flower but is actually a luxury hotel in Marrakech in Morocco. It’s the work of Melbourne-based Angela Mellak, who fell in love with the country (and a man she met in the Kasbah) several years ago.

“My dream was to create such a space for others to enjoy connecting back to themselves and experience the magic of Marrakech. A decade later, my dream of opening a guest house in the city was realised after a lot of looking,” she told me.

The property has been earning rave reviews across the globe and Angela now splits her time between Australia and Morocco as her fledgling business takes flight.

The Australian travel industry. It really is the gift that keeps on giving.

# And talking of giving, Traveltalk is famous for its competitions and boy, do we have a good one for you this month!

One lucky reader is going to win TWO Premium Economy return tickets from Australia to London with Vietnam Airlines, valued at $10,000!

Australia’s value to the UK visitor economy is now the highest on record, with both record spend and visits in 2023.

London is one of the world’s most vibrant cities, famous for its history, architecture, shopping and culture. Think Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and so much more.

What’s more, easy and efficient road and rail links can have you in other UK cities and the renowned English countryside in mere hours.

To enter, simply find the four questions about London we’ve hidden throughout the September issue and then head to our competition page with your answers. Good luck!