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Crooked Compass is a boutique tour operator combining a range of spectacularly exciting tours uncovering some of the world’s best kept secrets, a unique travel app for smart phones and tablets, supported by an intriguing blog brimming with lesser known travel experiences, expert knowledge, travel tips and insiders guides to lesser known haunts. Adventure and experiential travel is close to Lisa's heart as she believes to truly experience a destination, you must be completely immersed in it and live like the locals do. Lisa Pagotto has lived and breathed the industry since 2003 and excelling in all facets of the industry from product development, price contracting and negotiations, heading up several sales and marketing teams nationally as well as creating and establishing a touring brand for another company. The time naturally came when Lisa was to create her own brand, built around her unique style of travel. Crooked Compass was born. The most beautiful thing in the world is of course the world itself.

This episode we go a little deeper into Mona's career and she shares with us her experiences and life lessons she has learnt along the way. In her role as Country Manager, Sultanate of Oman Tourism Australia & New Zealand, Mona works closely with the wholesale and consumer market in raising the profile, awareness and branding of Oman in the market through joint tactical marketing and major innovative consumer campaigns that deliver the diversity of the destination across all areas of tourism.  Mona shares with us how she uses her spirituality and mediation to bring her clarity and success in her life and in 2014 Mona was nominated for the 'Telstra Australian Businesswomen of the Year Awards'. In her years in the Travel and Tourism industry, she has developed and fostered long term business partnerships across all travel industry sectors which include; wholesalers (product administrators, sales and marketing teams) travel publications, hoteliers, airline management/staff, public relations companies, exhibition management companies, journalists, travel editors and freelance journalists. These have been multi-faceted relationships on a regional, state, national and international level.  The dedication and passion she brings to her work was rewarded in July 2012 with Sultanate of Oman Tourism taking out the “Best Tourism Board – International” category at the Australian Federation of Travel Agents Awards. A significant achievement when other major international tourism boards have been very well and securely established in this category for several years.

TRAVEL CONVERSATIONS EP 10 OUT NOW!!! Passion, Business, meditation, Spirituality & Success. This episode we meet Mona Tannous, Country Manager Oman tourism. In her role as Country Manager, Sultanate of Oman Tourism Australia & New Zealand, Mona works closely with the wholesale and consumer market in raising the profile, awareness and branding of Oman in the market through joint tactical marketing and major innovative consumer campaigns that deliver the diversity of the destination across all areas of tourism.  Mona shares with us how she uses her spirituality and mediation to bring her clarity and success in her life and in 2014 Mona was nominated for the 'Telstra Australian Businesswomen of the Year Awards'. In her years in the Travel and Tourism industry, she has developed and fostered long term business partnerships across all travel industry sectors which include; wholesalers (product administrators, sales and marketing teams) travel publications, hoteliers, airline management/staff, public relations companies, exhibition management companies, journalists, travel editors and freelance journalists. These have been multi-faceted relationships on a regional, state, national and international level.  The dedication and passion she brings to her work was rewarded in July 2012 with Sultanate of Oman Tourism taking out the “Best Tourism Board – International” category at the Australian Federation of Travel Agents Awards. A significant achievement when other major international tourism boards have been very well and securely established in this category for several years. https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/travel-conversations-podcast/id1071991592

Hi Travel lovers, Well I am back from overseas and can’t wait to bring you some incredible interviews from our inspiring leaders from across our industry! I am so sorry to say that the interview we had this week has unfortunately been corrupted so we won’t be able to provide you an episode this week. I will be sure to get an interview locked in ASAP to bring you another great Travel Conversations. Thanks for supporting the show

Meet my Original Mentor from TIME. Oliver Tams, Director Strategic Partnerships/Story Teller & THINK (http://www.thinkprocurement.com/) If you love technology, travel or anything business this is the episode for you. It's all about, " getting the right people in the room " and then making sure the right things get done with integrity. The foundations of good business relationships. Individual brand and credibility go a long way to making this happen. Oli's philosophy on all things business, revolve around the above and aiming to be remarkable. Oli has such a diverse career in the Travel industry and shares his story and tales of his journey.

A legend in the world of Coach touring. Meet Les Cox former Managing director of AAT Kings global, Creative holidays and Contiki. From a BDM for Trafalgar one day to Managing director of Contiki holidays the next, Les shares with us his incredible journey throughout a 30 year career at the Travel Corporation. Les has a simple yet incredibly effective way of looking at business and this is reflected in the success he has seen throughout his carreer.

Ann Sherry is the Executive Chairman of Carnival Australia, the largest cruise ship operator in Australasia and a division of Carnival Corporation & Plc. Carnival is the world’s largest cruise ship business and owner of 10 iconic brands including P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Aida, Cunard, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line and Seabourn. She joined in 2007 as CEO and has transformed the industry and growth has been double digit each year since 2007.Prior to this, Ann was with Westpac for 12 years and was Chief Executive Officer, Westpac New Zealand, CEO, Bank of Melbourne and Group Executive, People & Performance. She was a driver of cultural change, community engagement and customer focus in commercial and retail banking.Prior to this, Ann was with Westpac for 12 years and was Chief Executive Officer, Westpac New Zealand, CEO, Bank of Melbourne and Group Executive, People & Performance. She was a driver of cultural change, community engagement and customer focus in commercial and retail banking.Before joining Westpac, Ann was First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women in Canberra, advising the Prime Minister on policies and programmes to improve the status of women and was Australia’s representative to the United Nations forums on human rights and women’s rights.In addition to her executive role, Ann holds a number of non‐executive roles including Sydney Airport, ING Direct (Australia), Myer Family Investments, The Palladium Group, Australian Rugby Union and Cape York Partnerships.Ann is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.In 2001, Ann was awarded a Centenary Medal by the Australian Government for her work on providing banking services to disadvantaged communities.In 2004, Ann was awarded an Order of Australia for her contribution to the Australian community through the promotion of corporate management policies and practices that embrace gender equity, social justice and work and family partnerships.In 2013, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Macquarie University for her contribution to business and civil society and in 2014, an Honorary Doctorate of Business by University of Queensland.  In 2015, Ann was named as the overall winner of the Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Award.

Thirty four-year-old entrepreneur Jot Lynas is co-founder of highly successful Sydney-based travel company Unleashed Travel, which caters to the hugely growing overseas school leaver travel market. Unleashed takes 3000-plus school leavers every year to exotic destinations in Fiji, Cambodia, Vanuatu and Europe. Since the company was established in 2006, Jot’s business acumen has seen Unleashed Travel make the 2011 and 2012 “BRW Fast Starter” lists and achieve a 40 per cent year-on-year growth. Jot has been recognised for his success as a young entrepreneur, receiving an honourable mention in leading business title Anthill in their Hot Entrepreneurs under 30 list (2010). Jot has also been profiled in well-known business publications Smart Company and BRW, has regularly appeared on Channels 7, 9 and 10, and has been interviewed by Fairfax Media and 2GB, among others, to talk about Unleashed Travel.

An experienced senior management executive with both breadth and depth of experience across the Tourism and Hospitality industry. A track record for results, leading iconic brands and a passion for innovation, delivering exceptional guest experiences and quality service. Tammy’s role is Chief Operating Officer at TFE Hotels, a leading hotel operator across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia. Her role focuses on operational excellence, quality service, designing the guest experience, property development, food and beverage, and optimising financial performance.  Tammy’s career has spanned cruising, wholesale, hotels and resorts, touring sectors.  Prior to joining TFE, she was SVP Head of Commercial for Carnival Australia, where her focus was commercial responsibilities and strategy, destination development and management, supplier relationships, distribution, shared services, and Head of Commercial for leading brands P&O Australia and UK and Cunard.  Previous positions held include the Managing Director of AAT Kings; startup venture Inspiring Journeys, Managing Director of iconic youth travel brand Contiki and Contiki Resorts and the Head of Sales and Marketing at Alpine World. Tammy also received her Business Administration Degree at QUT in Brisbane and holds an MBA from QUT Brisbane, in 2002. In 2014 she graduated from the Australian Institute Company Directors. 

As Managing Director, Katrina looks after the Contiki business in Australia, in addition to overseeing Busabout in Australia and various other youth brands and regional operations. Prior to joining Contiki, Katrina spent 3 years with BT in senior leadership roles in various direct businesses, digital, marketing and customer experience across 17 brands.  Previous to that she spent 7 years with the Virgin Group where she held a variety of roles from leading strategy at Virgin Money, to investment management with Virgin’s PE arm, to being one of the founders of Virgin Active gyms in Australia.   Prior to joining the Virgin Group, Katrina worked as a management consultant with McKinsey and Company.  Katrina holds Commerce and Law degrees from the University of Auckland, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Outside of work, Katrina enjoys travelling, the outdoors, yoga and great, great red wine.

Renee has always been at home in the world of travel tech. Over the past 15 years she’s held senior roles at Lastminute.com, GoDo (Wotif) and travel.com.au where she has been working on opening new distribution opportunities for the attractions, tours and activities sector.   Renee recognised that technology could revolutionise this industry in positive ways, but also pose challenges to businesses that were bound to outdated processes. This is why she launched Booking Boss in 2013. The company has since then secured significant investment and helped hundreds of attractions and tours streamline and grow their business. If Renee isn’t busy shaking up the travel industry, she loves spending time with her two kids and seek inspiration from the world of interior design.

Stuart is the regional vice president for Princess Cruises in Australia and New Zealand, responsible for commercial operations in what is now their biggest source market outside of North America. With over 17 years cruise industry experience, he’s led deployment planning and revenue management functions across a number of Carnival Corporation brands. Since relocating from the UK to Australia in 2003, Stuart has played an integral role in driving demand for cruising in this region; from the development of new home ports beyond Sydney, to the first world cruise sailing round-trip from Australia.

Welcome to episode 1 of travel conversations. The Australian travel and tourism industries first dedicated podcast. Episode 1 see’s hosts Ryan & Aaron welcome Penny Spencer, Managing Director of the multi awarding winning Spencer Group of Companies on the first episode of travel conversations. A model of business success, Penny built her company from scratch from to where it stands today as a multi award winning business group. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry and having founded her first business in 1998, Penny has since expanded her business portfolio to include four additional companies forming the now multimillion dollar Spencer Group of Companies. As an established industry leader, Penny is also a regular commentator in the media on issues of travel and business. She is also a member of various business industry organisations such as Entrepreneurs Organisation. Penny’s passion for travel does not stop with her business. She is an industry mentor and the brainchild behind the not-for-profit organisation, TIME (Travel Industry Mentor Experience) – a program designed to provide knowledge and support to upcoming travel industry professionals