Our dedicated team of corporate, leisure and conference/events senior travel advisors are quite simply the best in the business with unrivalled travel industry experience. We pride ourselves in delivering a superior level of service with exquisite attention to detail. Our goal is to always exceed your expectations.
You will be assigned your very own Travel Advisor based upon your specific travel requirements with a nominated back up consultant in the event of sickness or leave.
Travel to me is sassy, spontaneous and sexy – just like me. I’ve been in the travel industry for over 15 years – began in retail, transitioned to wholesale and now Director Sally Bird’s personal Senior Corporate Consultant. I enjoy the behind the scenes of the industry the most with my specialities including ticketing, airfare construction and round-the-world itineraries.
During my personal travels, I immediately try to merge and mingle with the locals as soon as I arrive at a destination. With my Greek heritage, the Greek Islands remain my favourite place to visit. The best part of any trip for me is getting to know the locals, understanding how they live, trying their local cuisine, shopping in the community haunts and not the touristy places, etc. I’m a passionate person and I tackle my travels and work with gusto – dive in, I say! Travel for work and play will always be in my blood and I’ll be dedicated to this industry for the rest of my life – without travel, I cannot live another day!
My favourite activity whilst travelling is riding a bicycle or vespa. Phuket, Siciliy, Queenstown – you’ll find me cruising along on two wheels. I’d venture to say the best way to see a foreign country is by bike since cycling forces you to take more time, take it all in, veer off course and experience how the locals live. For me, Vespas provide the feeling of freedom, and, in a larger sense, what travel signifies to me which is liberty – a time when I can release myself from the everyday norm and be free to explore as I wish.
As a wide-eyed Italian child, (I still speak fluent Sicilian dialect) I fell in love with travelling when my parents took me to Sicily and all around Italy for 3 months at age 11 to visit my relatives. I remember it was during the summertime and all the towns were celebrating saints’ days with massive festivals and evening fireworks. It was instant amore and my lifelong love affair with travel began that magical summer.
After high school, I worked for almost 15 years in leisure travel and dealt a great deal with the original Italian migrants returning home for holidays with their families. I also embarked upon corporate travel for the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne, among other corporate enterprises. Then I was off to London for a year working in corporate travel and finally returned to Melbourne, my home.
At Edge, I’m a Senior Corporate Consultant and I treasure dealing with people/clients. The only reason I began a career in travel was to enable me to travel more, it’s that simple. The truth is, I’m frightened of flying but that will not stop me from conquering the skies to land somewhere new. It’s been 24 years now working in leisure and corporate travel and I wouldn’t change a moment. There are always new horizons to see by foot or two wheels….
After 3 years of living in London, the gateway to everywhere, I was bitten by the ‘travel bug’ and fated for a life-long career in this ever changing and exciting industry – that was over 20 years ago. I’ve travelled the world extensively – adventures I quickly relay to my loyal clientele, whether it’s a boat journey along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, a Balinese cycling escapade through the rice paddies in Ubud, hot air ballooning over Cappadocia, Turkey or a helicopter transfer to my 5-star accommodation in Hong Kong.
I specialise in both corporate and leisure travel and equally enjoy both sides of the industry. I’m known as a workaholic in our office and I strive to always be available to my clients no matter what time zone they may be in. I work tirelessly, often round-the-clock, to provide unique travel solutions for my clients’ individual needs. I believe that it’s not just about getting my clients to and from where they need or wish to go, it’s the attention to detail for all their arrangements which makes the difference. My nomination for ‘Best Travel Consultant – Corporate’ in the National Travel Industry Awards is further testament of my level of service to my clients.
I actively search for and attend different trade shows around the globe such as Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, ILTM in Shanghai and ATF in South East Asia to further my knowledge and remain au courant about hotel openings, renovations and newsworthy industry developments.
Whether travelling on business or leisure I will make the planning and logistics of any journey a ‘holiday’ for my clients and I promise to deliver with not only expertise and insight but wit and laughter as well.
I was born to travel – it must be in my blood. Born in the UK and with vague memories of weekends ‘abroad’ and family holidays as a child (all over Australia & NZ), to my first holiday as a ‘paying adult’ with friends on a Pacific cruise at 17, to taking off on my own at 21 for two years around the UK, Russia, Eastern-block countries and Europe in 1987/88 (before the fall of the Iron Curtain, quite an experience and scary in those days); I did not want to sit still in the one place for too long. My mum said I had caught the ‘wanderlust’ – like it was a disease. But I needed to keep moving. When I arrived back in Australia, I promptly started working for Qantas for the next 13 years in Retail travel, then moved into the Corporate arena for 15 years. Now I find myself full circle, back in the Leisure industry in my adopted city Melbourne and love it. I am enjoying immersing myself in the Wonderful World of Leisure. There are so many amazing places in the world and I relish offering ideas and sharing the excitement of ‘bucket-list’ holidays with clients.
I particularly appreciate architecutural history and I’m a bit of a ‘foodie’, so ancient cities in Europe such as Italy, France, Greece, Turkey and Scotland, to name a few, always impress and satisfy my two passions.
Two recent personal ‘bucket-list’ trips were New York, where I celebrated with my husband our 20th anniversary, and Paris, Greece & Turkey where I spent a special birthday with family and friends. So many more ‘bucket list’ trips to tick off! And I would love to help you tick yours off too.
I remain in awe of the power of travel to transform, renew and influence destiny. For 20 years I’ve passionately ventured off to new destinations – some holidays even became home including Scotland and the Netherlands. My style of travel ranges from luxurious to adventurous to simplistic depending on my needs and wants at the time. My family and I relish travelling together and we are always planning our next globe-trotting odyssey.
As a young child my parents implanted the travel bug into me. I frequented Asia during my youth with my family and developed a strong affection for the continent. I can even speak basic Indonesian thanks to a school exchange program in Jakarta in my teens. Over the years Asia remains my favourite holiday destination – Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, China, Japan, India, to name a few. I have visited most of these countries more times than I can count on all my fingers and toes and will continue to return to my home away from home endless times in the future. My travels have also taken me to the UK, Europe, USA and the Maldives.
My career in travel began in London many years ago when I worked for Trafalgar Tours as a hotel rep. When I returned to Australia, I started consulting in leisure travel as I was very passionate about helping to make people’s travel dreams come true. After years of leisure travel I decided I needed a bit of a change, so I transitioned to corporate travel where I remain today and love all the challenges that are thrown my way. The aspect I love most about my job is building lasting relationships with my clients whom I cherish.
My idea of a perfect holiday always involves some time relaxing by a pool and going on a shopping spree. I am known as a bit of a sun worshipper and have visited many beautiful beach resorts around the world which I will continue to do. It’s 5-star all the way for me. Dazzle me, I say! I want to walk into a hotel or resort and exclaim, ‘Wow’. I look forward to having many more ‘wow’ moments on my travels ahead.
Executive Edge’s resident cheerleader, my enthusiasm for travel is unbounded. Go Edgers! Although there are two other religions I also pledge my allegiance to – horse racing and the Essendon footy club. Every Saturday during racing season, you’ll find me donning vogue ‘fashions on the field’ in an extravagant hat and gossiping about the latest and greatest travel destination. I’m also a bit of a culinary connoisseur – book me in for M on the Bund in Shanghai and I’m in heaven. In April 2010 I celebrated 30 years selling retail travel – OMG! Honeymooners, senior travellers, 4-star cruising and mainstream tourism is my core client base. Over the years I have won awards from Trafalgar Tours and Qantas Holidays and owned my own retail travel agency for 7 years before coming to Edge.
A third generation travel agent, I suppose my destiny to work in the travel industry was preconceived. My parents took our family traveling overseas every few months since birth, so experiencing the world beyond Australia’s borders has been engrained in my blood. 20 years as a luxury agent, my speciality is hotel knowledge and custom travel itineraries including insider expertise on restaurants, shopping, driving guides and local tips for boutique off-the-beaten-track places. Personally, my passions are active adventure holidays (especially skiing) and culinary pursuits. I have extensive understanding of America, France, India and South America and I look forward to assisting you with your next luxury itinerary.
I head Executive Edge’s Cultural and Special Interest Group Travel team which specialises in tours to Israel, Poland, Germany and other areas of Eastern Europe, family reunion group travel for barmitzvah in Israel, and Jewish tours to various destinations including India, China, Morocco and Western Europe. Music and the performing arts tours are also a focus of mine.
I joined Edge as a leader in my field in Jewish education. I was Head of Jewish Life and Learning at Moriah College in Sydney where I created programs for children and families to appreciate Jewish heritage and culture through designing and leading travel programs to Israel, Poland and Germany. I’ve also held notable positions as the Director of Formal and Informal Jewish Education at Bialik College in Melbourne and 13 years at Melbourne’s Mount Scopus Memorial College where I led trips to Israel and Poland for both students and parents.
I have two great loves – Jewish eduction and singing. And I’m best known throughout our community for my voice. For 11 years I was the Senior Chazzan at Melbourne’s Central Shule and I’m currently Chazzan at St Kilda Hebrew Congregation. Most notably, I was the recipient of an acclaimed opera scholarship which allowed me to further my operatic studies in Milan and Tuscany.
17 years in the travel industry has allowed me to live and breathe my love for travel. From an early age I’d leap at any opportunity to travel. Perhaps it was my family’s immigration from South Africa to Australia or my years spent in Israel that started the ball rolling for me. On a coastal getaway I’m the first person to hit the beach and soak up the sun, yet I’m equally drawn to active travel. Forget the guided tour, I’d rather jump on a bike to explore a city on my own, allowing the authentic immersion in a new place to swallow me whole. I am instantly captivated by the sensory pleasures of a new country – the sights, the smells, the sounds. For me travelling means escaping the reality of life for a moment to centre myself, then returning home with a rejuvenated appreciation for my world. Inspired, I’m able to pass on all my newfound travel experiences and ideas to my clients.
Travel has always inspired me, rejuvenated me and filled me with wonder during the 20 years I’ve spent in this industry. I began my career in retail, then onto London to work for an African safari company. Returning home to Australia I spent 16 years as a European and Mediterranean specialist, and now I have found my way back to leisure travel.
My “pinch yourself” travel moments include falling asleep to the sound of lions on safari in South Africa, trekking to Machu Picchu where I watched the sun rise over the ruins, snorkelling with manta rays in Ningaloo, cruising into Venice past the beautiful St. Marks Square, walking through the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia and listening to the prayer call echo through the old town of Sarajevo. There is nowhere on earth that doesn’t excite me, inspire me and thrill me – no place that I don’t want to see and experience. Being back in leisure travel gives me the chance to make other peoples’ travel dreams come true and create their “pinch yourself” moments. DREAM – EXPLORE – DISCOVER.
When I was young I wanted to be an air hostess. I envisioned glamourous jet setting to exotic locales and set my sights very early in my childhood upon a profession in the travel industry. Not to mention, I’ve always had a keen interest in planes – go figure! After travelling through Europe and settling in London for two years during my twenties, I returned to Australia and began my illustrious career as a corporate domestic consultant at a large Sydney-based firm. Today, after accumulating 23 years in corporate international travel including 11 years with Executive Edge Travel + Events, I’m the Corporate Team Manager overseeing a truly talented group of corporate consultants. During those two decades in travel, I’ve arranged, advised and created endless itineraries as simple as Sydney/Melbourne/Sydney and as vast as 10 countries in 2 weeks through Western Africa, Asia and Europe. The challenge of orchestrating complicated airfares and deciphering new and better ways of designing itineraries keeps me ever captivated.
Although I never became a stewardess, those childhood dreams still have come true in my ability to see the world. My personal favourite places remain New York and London but recently I fell in love with some of the MOST beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen in India which were grand palaces in their day….
I lived in London for many years so I’m a local expert on the UK but call Melbourne home now. With nearly 30 years in the industry, I still savour the diversity of travel – exploring new places, historical finds, wild animals or just relaxing. I challenge myself with each itinerary to ensure my clients live their travel dreams within their budget. Designing the ideal experience for each client is always my goal. And I always pay careful attention to the little things as well – child seats in private transfers, VIP meet and greets, vaccination advice, etc. If I had to pick two of my favourite places in the world besides London, I would choose South Africa and Turkey.
I have clocked over 32 years in the travel industry and still today love the challenge of arranging my clients’ next adventure. As much as I ensure every detail of my clients’ itinerary is perfectly orchestrated, I personally find the unpredictability of travel most intriguing. Those travel moments when you unexpectedly stumble upon a person or place or vista that takes your breath away and makes you marvel at your luck is what I live for. The great outdoors is where I spend my free time and, likewise, my focus tends to be sports-oriented holidays hiking or biking in Alaska or Utah. My speciality areas are Canada and USA having travelled extensively through both countries. Bermuda will always be my favourite destination – nothing like sinking your toes into a pink sand beach.
Travel has been my life for the last 30 years, all of it in retail travel. After managing a travel agency, I joined the Executive Edge team and have loved returning to full-time consulting. I take pride in creating the best experience for every client and my attention to detail covers every aspect of a journey. The highest praise I receive is a personal referral from a happy traveller. I’ll never stop learning and welcome feedback from my clients which keeps my knowledge current and my ideas fresh.
I’ve had too many travel highlights to count but if I had to list my Top 5 trips of all time I’d select New York (nothing tops the Big Apple for city life), safari in Tanzania, touring Egypt, walking on the Great Wall of China and island hopping around Croatia. As a self-professed food and wine connoisseur, there is nothing better than sitting in a café, savouring a local speciality, whilst soaking up the atmosphere and watching the world go by.
When I’m not working, I spend my time with family and friends, following Geelong Football Club, planning my next getaway and wining and dining.
As Executive Assistant to Director Yvonne Verstandig for the last decade, you can basically call me a master of all trades. We even attended the same year in school together and remain dear family friends. Yvonne and I function as a team – whatever travel challenge she throws my way, I tackle with gusto. I love Yvonne’s energy and passion for travel as it’s truly infectious which makes working for her even more enjoyable. You’ll often find us working late into the evening and weekends as our clients simply come first. My personal travel area specialities are Club Med in the Asia/Pacific region, Mexico, Cambodia, Chile and Peru. Berlin/Germany also hold a special place in my heart for myself and my family. Every chance I get, I’ll eagerly hop on a plane to discover what’s around the next bend. But also race home to get back to work!