I was especially looking forward to this trip as my son Ian 2 was joining me. He has been my Marketing Manager for the past two years now, and enjoys the industry just as much as I do. Over those two years, he and I have been exploring parts of the globe together – whether it be looking for new properties and experiences or searching out new destinations to offer to our travelers; and now it was time for another adventure! [Read more…] about To the Rock and Back in 16 Hours
Safari in the Mara
I left Nairobi early in the morning and hopped on a short flight to The Mara. The Mara is an extremely large game reserve in Kenya. It was named to honor the ancestral inhabitants of the area, the Maasai people. “Mara”, in their native tongue, means “spotted”. From great distances, the circles of trees, shrubs, cloud shadows and savanna create a brilliant shadow effect that inspired the name, “Mara. I always enjoy hearing these cultural stories – really helps you to immerse yourself in your surroundings -having a bit of knowledge of how it came to be. [Read more…] about Safari in the Mara
Family vacation continues in Sydney
There is always this special feeling I get when I land in Sydney – always something new to the city or exciting people to meet. This time, after only a short flight from Hamilton Island and our island getaway at Hayman – it felt great to re-immerse into city life. And, with the fairly new tunnel system, it was a quick 15-minute transfer to the InterContinental Sydney, where we would be spending the next three nights. [Read more…] about Family vacation continues in Sydney
Wolgan Valley and my incredible stay
It had been over a year since I last visited this beautiful lodge, and my how things have changed. During the interim and under the guidance of Joost (the GM) and Ben (Manager of Conservation and Activities), thousands of trees have been planted and wildlife safety and conservation has been at the forefront of operations. [Read more…] about Wolgan Valley and my incredible stay
Hayman Island with the family
Hayman was our first stop after my Mum’s 80th birthday celebration on the Gold Coast. We had almost all of the family including my brother George, his wife Michelle and their two daughters, Georgia and Ashley. After our flight, we popped the sunnys on and walked down the jetty to board the Sun Goddess. [Read more…] about Hayman Island with the family
My recent stay at Southern Ocean Lodge
We all flew from Sydney and easily made the connection to REX Airlines for the short hop to Kangaroo Island, home to Southern Ocean Lodge. Once we landed, there stood Craig Wickham of Exceptional Kangaroo Island, the best tour operator in Australia and a great friend. I have known Craig for over 25 years and consider him a real mate! [Read more…] about My recent stay at Southern Ocean Lodge