The Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss

In this episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury travelling with Kim Vaughan of Viking Cruises. An international strategic senior travel professional with 20 years of experience innovating and creating profitable and successful product for multimillion-dollar companies across diverse portfolios. Kim has worked extensively across Africa, Europe, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand in diverse roles and has experience in strategic planning and implementation and is able to prioritize effectively, multi-task and achieve objectives within time and budget. Kim has worked in small group touring, overland travel, Global sports events as well as cruising. The post 57. Kim Vaughan – Viking Cruises appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury travelling with Jen Pagett National Accounts Manager Australia of Uni World Boutique River Cruises Experienced account manager, who has a demonstrated history of working in the leisure, travel & tourism industry. I have exceeded sales targets, developed and implemented sales and marketing strategies and excel at training and facilitation. I’d be tempted to answer all the amazing travel and the social aspects of our job. But the reality is the feeling of satisfaction I get from adding value to a travel partners business. I love supporting agents in driving their luxury river cruise sales. The post 57. Jen Pagett – Uni World Boutique River Cruises appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury travelling with Jen Pagett National Accounts Manager Australia of Uni World Boutique River Cruises Experienced account manager, who has a demonstrated history of working in the leisure, travel & tourism industry. I have exceeded sales targets, developed and implemented sales and marketing strategies and excel at training and facilitation. I’d be tempted to answer all the amazing travel and the social aspects of our job. But the reality is the feeling of satisfaction I get from adding value to a travel partners business. I love supporting agents in driving their luxury river cruise sales. The post 57. Jen Pagett – Uni World Boutique River Cruises appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury travelling with Jen Pagett National Accounts Manager Australia of Uni World Boutique River Cruises Experienced account manager, who has a demonstrated history of working in the leisure, travel & tourism industry. I have exceeded sales targets, developed and implemented sales and marketing strategies and excel at training and facilitation. I’d be tempted to answer all the amazing travel and the social aspects of our job. But the reality is the feeling of satisfaction I get from adding value to a travel partners business. I love supporting agents in driving their luxury river cruise sales. The post 57. Jen Pagett – Uni World Boutique River Cruises appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury travelling with Susie Coughlin of Globus Family of Brands. Susie Coughlin – Regional Sales Manager for the Globus family of brands. With over 30 years’ experience in Sales for coach touring and river cruising companies, Susie has a thorough knowledge and understanding of all things coach and river cruising. Having experienced firsthand the waterways of Europe on several occasions, along with cruising the lower Mekong and the Yangtze, Susie is more than qualified to speak on the features and benefits of river cruising in general. The post 56. Susie Coughlin – Globus Family of Brands appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this episode, Luxury Travel Podcast’s Allen Suss discusses Railbookers with Sharleen Wright of A Yankee Leisure Group Company. They talked about advantages, do’s and don’t from luxury travelling using Railbookers. Sharleen is a travel sales & marketing professional with over ten years of experience in both retail and wholesale travel organisations, such as Rail Europe, Rail Plus, Beyond Travel, Bentours, and Flight Centre. She now holds the role of Business Development Executive for Yankee Holidays in Australia, representing the brands of Railbookers & Amtrak Vacations. The post 55. Sharleen Wright – Railbookers appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this episode, Luxury Travel Podcast’s Allen Suss discusses luxury ocean cruising with Alexandria Hruncev of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara. They talk about what you can expect from cruising, and the differences between these 3 sister cruise lines. Alex is the District Sales Manager (VIC/TAS) and has been working with Royal Caribbean for 3 years. She has sailed on 20+ cruises – most with Royal Caribbean – and sometimes had 3 cruises booked in one year. You can certainly say she loves cruising! If you haven’t sailed on a cruise yet, now is the time to choose a cruise and set sail to an amazing destination. The post 54. Alexandria Hruncev – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury river cruising with John Navarro of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. Award-winning Uniworld – the world’s ONLY authentic boutique cruise line – offers itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt and Asia. The company’s European fleet features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry, enticing shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, impeccable hospitality and numerous other all-inclusive benefits. The Highest Standards in Luxury River Cruising In 2004, Uniworld was acquired by The Travel Corporation (TTC), a highly successful international travel group founded by Stanley Tollman. TTC has more than 30 top brands, including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Contiki, as well as Red Carnation Hotels, a renowned collection of four- and five-star luxury properties. TTC has made major investments in Uniworld’s ships, crew, and staff, with an eye towards providing guests with all the elements of an unforgettable Six-Star Experience: Expertise; Service; Luxurious Ships, Uniquely Designed; Culinary; Choice; and Truly All-Inclusive. Combining the tour planning and hotel management expertise of TTC’s sister companies with Uniworld’s decades of superior nautical experience has created an entirely new category of luxury river cruising. The Boutique Experience, Onboard & Onshore The renowned Red Carnation Hotel Collection was founded in the early 1980s by Beatrice Tollman, who has many years of experience as a chef, cookbook author, and hotelier in South Africa, Europe, and the US. The family-run business now spans four generations—including her husband Stanley and three children—and owns and operates 17 boutique properties in five countries. Mrs. Tollman was named Hotelier of the Year at the European Hospitality Awards in 2012. Boutique hotels are known for their destination-specific interior décor, gracious service, and carefully selected amenities, all of which provide an intimate, elegant, and relaxed experience. Similarly, Uniworld’s boutique river cruises allow guests to travel from one exciting destination to the next aboard a stylish floating hotel with inviting lounges, cosy libraries, panoramic restaurants, sumptuous cuisine, exquisite antiques and original art and luxurious riverview staterooms and suites. Meticulous attention to detail is readily apparent on every company-owned ship, including Uniworld’s six stunning Super Ships—the S.S. Antoinette, S.S. Beatrice, S.S. Catherine, S.S. Joie de Vivre, S.S. Maria Theresa and the S.S. Bon Voyage (debuting 2019). Gracious and Attentive Service In partnership with its sister company, Red Carnation Hotels, Uniworld takes pride in its long-lasting relationships with guests, for whom there is “No request too large, no detail too small.” Uniworld employs a professionally trained, dedicated, English-speaking staff, so guests never have to worry about communication. The post 53. John Navarro – Uniworld Boutique River Cruises appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury coach touring with Harry Sargant of Inside Japan Tours. To those considering Japan as a holiday destination, Harry would say that it is like no other place on earth. Every country claims to have friendly locals, but the Japanese REALLY go out of their way to make you feel welcome. They are so proud of their country that they are delighted you have travelled so far to see it. In fact, in almost ten years of working at InsideJapan, Harry has only ever met one person who didn’t like the place – and they’re still friends! After 11 years in our UK office, in August 2016 Harry transferred to our Australian office in Brisbane as Sales and Marketing Manager. Japan is a destination like no other. Join Inside Japan Tours group tour and you will have an expert tour leader to show you hidden haunts and their personal favourite sites; travel Self-Guided with the recommendations of our expert travel consultants; or take an Exclusive Private Journey with professional guides to lead you every step of the way. Travel with Inside Japan Tours and you will have the holiday of a lifetime. The post 52. Harry Sargant – InsideJapan Tours appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury coach touring with Kate Foster of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. From humble beginnings to world-renowned luxury cruise and tour operator. In 2016 Scenic celebrated 30 years as a leader in its field. The Scenic team has worked tirelessly to earn a world-class reputation. Creating and delivering the ultimate cruising and touring itineraries for travelers who seek wondrous experiences and exceptional 5-star service. Even with all the success it has gained from its luxury cruises, the company still prides itself with all the luxury land travels it has to offer. From Canada & Alaska to far east Africa, they still maintain all the 5-star services they provide to every customer wherever their destination may be, and as Kate said so herself, “There’s absolutely nowhere in the world that you can’t travel with scenic”. The post 51. Kate Foster – Scenic appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury cruising with Paige Kirk of Regent Seven Seas Cruise. The Regent Experience has long been absolute in its inclusiveness, seeking to provide you, our traveler and guest, with the most enriching and luxurious journey on the seven seas. From the first words spoken with our seasoned experts when booking your cruise to a bittersweet farewell when returning home at the end of your voyage, fulfilling your every want and need is our sincerest pleasure. Paige has done her fair share of travelling around the world and she always had a passion for creative writing and experiential travel, key strengths lie in client liaison work in the luxury travel industry, excellent relationship management, business development, and exceptional research and analysis skills. Extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry across South East Asia & Australia 8 years of experience within the travel industry 6 years as an experienced Business Development/Sales Manager Proven track record of increasing sales With these set of skills, anyone is sure to enjoy any cruise under her management. Again, Solo travelers are getting quite popular lately and if you are one, better listen in and find out what treats the Regent has in store for you. The post 50. Paige Kirk – Regent appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury cruising with Kate Foster of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. From humble beginnings to world-renowned luxury cruise and tour operator. In 2016 Scenic celebrated 30 years as a leader in its field. The Scenic team has worked tirelessly to earn a world-class reputation. Creating and delivering the ultimate cruising and touring itineraries for travelers who seek wondrous experiences and exceptional 5-star service. European cruise is something that any traveler should experience. It is vastly different from the land tours as Kate mentioned. You are also in for a treat when you cruise with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. Everything is rated 5-star from accommodations to the food which ridiculous in the best possible way. The meals are prepared on board by world class chefs in state of the art kitchens and everything is always guaranteed 5-star. Solo travelers are also encouraged to check out their Pre-release programs as it offers big discounts to as much as 50% for selected tours. Grab this opportunity now to travel in luxury at a humble price! The post 49. Kate Foster – Scenic appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury travelling with Toni Kosmarikas of Finnair Airlines. Finnair is the first European airline to fly the new fabulous A350 XWB aircraft (with extra wide body). With bigger windows, newly designed overhead storage bins, less curved sidewalls and LED mood lighting there is more space and light in the cabin. Our redesigned entertainment system and Wi-Fi makes the travel experience truly new and exciting. New Airbus A350 XWB operate on Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo route and also in rotation on Singapore and Seoul route. Business Class passengers, Economy Comfort passengers, and Finnair Plus Gold members can enjoy free complimentary internet access for one hour straight any time during the flight. For Finnair Plus Platinum members, there is complimentary internet for the whole flight. Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, you will always travel smoothly and arrive at your destination well rested. Learn all about the different amenities, cheap deals, and smooth transit they have to offer that will surely make any travel, a luxury. The post 48. Toni Kosmarikas – Finnair appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss speaks with John Vespasian about his first time travelling to Russia and the city of  St. Petersburg. John talks about the beautiful city of St. Petersburg and how it has been preserved over the past years, as well as all the amazing things he has witnessed and experienced during an 11 day visit to the country. He said that for a non-English speaking country, it was not difficult communicating in hotels, restaurants and around different tourist spots. He was also initially worried about the food since it was his first time in Russia, but surprisingly he found the food amazing. And that there were restaurants serving local food found from all the different Russian territories which he highly recommends. People often spend 2-3 days visiting this country, but according to John, you would need to spend at least a week to really witness and admire all the art, history and culture of the country. Who is John Vespasian? John Vespasian is from Holland and this is his first time travelling to Russia. He’s an author of personal development books based on history. The post 47. John Vespasian – Travelling to Russia appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss discusses the beauty of travelling Indochina – Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia with his friend Andrew Gelbart. Andrew loves to travel a lot around the globe with his wife, and sometimes are accompanied by their own private photographer to capture every memorable moment during their travels. He mentions that when travelling, It is best to communicate with the locals to truly understand the people, culture, and history of the places you are visiting. In this podcast, he shares his own experiences in travelling Indochina with his wife and friends. And despite all the blogs out there sharing their travel experiences with their readers, Andrew only had one thing to say, “There’s nothing like seeing it for yourself.” The post 46. Andrew Gelbart – Travelling Indochina appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss discusses luxury travelling with Adam Schwab of Luxury Escapes. Luxury Escapes has customers across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, the US and the UK. It is based in Melbourne and was founded in 2009 by Jeremy Same and Adam Schwab. The post 45. Adam Schwab – Luxury Escapes appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this Luxury Travel Podcast episode, Allen Suss talks about travelling to Tuscany with Ines Fabris, the founder of Tours of Tuscany. About Ines Fabris & Tours of Tuscany Ines was born and raised in Melbourne of Italian parents; my father was born on Isola d’Elba an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Ines had the opportunity to travel to Italy with her husband and children several times and always had a passion for Tuscany. It was in 2007 that Ines decided to take a study tour of Tuscany and in 2008 Tours of Tuscany was born. In 2012, Ines’ daughter, Monique, joined as Marketing Manager and together they share the beauty of the region with travellers from many corners of the globe, comprising, New Zealand, USA, Canada and UK. They spend the European Spring and Summer in Tuscany, nearby the historical centre of Cortona which is their home during their stay in Italy. From small beginnings in 2008 Tours of Tuscany has become a well-known brand for unique boutique tours of the region. The post 44. Ines Fabris – Tours of Tuscany appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

Greg Wilson – Wide Eyed Tours In this podcast episode, your travel captain, Allen Suss, speaks with Greg Wilson of Wide Eyed Tours about travelling Indochina (Vietnam and Cambodia). Ben’s favourite places to visit are: – The whole place! – Vietnam, and in particular, Hoi An. – Siem Reap (food there is amazing) Some tips for travelling Indochina: You can get around Cambodia and Vietnam only speaking English Cigarettes and alcohol are very cheap Excellent accommodation with funky architecture. Very good value for money. Quality clothing for one-tenth of what you would pay in Australia. Another advantage of Indochina travel is that it is not far to travel to from Australia. Most people go to Hanoi, Vietnam and that’s all, but there are a lot of amazing places to visit in the far north. It has the best scenery in Asia, after Nepal. When is the best time to travel Indochina? In Vietnam’s north, January (winter) is quite cold, so if you don’t like cold weather don’t go that time of year. Vietnam’s south is 35 degrees all year round. March into April is the best time to go, as well as August, for the milder weather. About Greg Wilson Started his career in retail travel in 1989 after travelling for 4 years and being well bitten by the “travel bug”. Almost 30 years latter with a career having seen him in a variety of positions with such leading travel organisations like Contiki Holidays, Insight Vacations, Cruise Abroad, Eastern Eurotours to name a few. Greg assisted in the introduction of Wide Eyed Tours onto the Australian Travel market in 2007. Wide Eyed Tours is a “boutique” independent travel operator looking after traveller to destination Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. Some 11 years latter he finds himself in the unplanned situation of being perhaps the most travelled person, in the industry, to Vietnam and the region. There will be few who have a better knowledge of Vietnam. Great Wilson is the National Sales Manager of Wide Eyed Tours. The post 43. Greg Wilson – Travelling Indochina appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this episode, Allen and his guest, Kerrin Trenorden of AirCalin, talk about holidaying in New Caledonia. AirCalin AirCalin is the national airline of New Caledonia. AirCalin has 3 flights per week directly from Melbourne and Brisbane, and 6 direct flights from Sydney per week into Noumea. Many people don’t realise how close New Caledonia is to Australia. It’s only just over 3 hours from Melbourne, and only 2 hours from Brisbane. AirCalin passage includes meals, luggage and your sports equipment. French influence in the food and service. It’s a beautiful little airline. New Caledonia New Caledonia has so much French influence, it is like being in France, except it is so much closer for Australians to travel to! Places to visit and things to do in New Caledonia: – Escapade Island (exquisite scuba diving) – Kite surfing – Snorkeling – Isles of Pines – Lifu island Much of the accommodation is apartment-style, and includes a kitchenette. On the New Caledonian west coast you have French ranches and cowboys. On the east coast has lovely rainforests with great hiking experiences. In the south you have beautiful whale watching. Be aware that you will need local currency, the South Pacific Franc. Have a monetary travel card loaded up and ready to use. About Kerrin Trenorden Kerrin’s first travel job was in Ballarat; Australian Sports Tours. Kerrin had just finished her sports degree and loved to travel so it was the perfect combination. Kerrin eventually held a national sales position with Thai Airways for six years before joining up with AirCalin. The post 43. Kerrin Trenorden – AirCalin and New Caledonia appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.

In this podcast episode, Allen speaks with Ben Wilson, co-founder of Medical Travel Companions (MTC). What is Medical Travel Companions? Medical Travel Companions is a unique service that assists people with their travel needs from a local domestic or complex international journey. There are a large number of individuals or families who choose not to travel due to a variety of reasons. MTC can remove many of the barriers that will allow many to realise their travel dreams. MTC travel companions are experienced paramedics, nurses, or nannies, that have undergone a rigorous selection process. They have a range of knowledge including: families with elderly parents, young children, people with a mental health issue, disability, or simply people who just need reassurance or help on a holiday or in transit. MTC companions are available on a global basis. Key Benefits of Using Medical Travel Companions Travellers can engage MTC services for travel on all forms of travel including, tours, cruises, flights, private vacations, or concierge transport services for local transportation requirements. MTC companions are available to help you to your desired destination or even to stay with you for the duration of the entire trip. Medical Travel Companions is flexible and can tailor a solution to suit your specific needs. MTC companions provide caring assistance to travellers such as: Elderly Disabled Insurance recovery Patient discharge Sporting groups School groups People with a psychological condition Children needing assistance People recovering from surgery or illnes Families Or it could simply be a case of a person travelling on their own who requires a trusted companion to accompany them on their travel journey.   About Ben Wilson | Co Founder & CEO of Medical Travel Companions Ben holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from the University of South Australia. Ben brings to MTC experience in the Airline, Airport, Travel, Health and HR sectors. Ben is responsible for the day to day strategic direction of MTC on a global basis. Before starting Medical Travel Companions in 2000, Ben held management roles for a major international airline, and also at a global management consulting firm. Ben has travelled extensively, including completing a transatlantic sailing voyage. He has lived and worked in the UK and Africa. Ben is married and has three children and enjoys boating, Kangaroo Island, diving, tennis and, of course, travelling. The post 42. Ben Wilson – Medical Travel Companions appeared first on Luxury Travel Podcast with Allen Suss.