Around the world in a night
We’d planned a celebration of all things Travel and on Thursday of last week at the Parmelia Hilton Perth, the inaugural Travel Lounge was all we’d hoped for and more.
A vibrant and vital audience of 140, seven guest panellists and the Travel team — editor Stephen Scourfield and writers Gemma Nisbet and myself — shared experiences of the world over a delicious three-course dinner with wines from Hay Shed Hill. All evening, new friends chatted like old, and the Argyle Ballroom felt more like our lounge room.
Stephen and Gemma set the scene, sharing adventures from out on the road, and dancer and choreographer Floeur Alder brought it all home with an elegant interpretation of Beautiful Witness, written and read by Stephen.
In-between, Lianne Reid (RAC Travel), Jodie Everett (Mobile Travel Agents), Helen Power (Travel Directors) and April Brandis (Flight Centre) took us from the African savannah to Hawaii by way of KL shopping malls and the Trans-Siberian railway, with information and a fair dose of good humour on the touring panel, hosted by myself.
More laughs and great advice followed as we sailed the world in the cruising panel, again hosted by me, with Barry Downs (Bicton Travel), Jan Welch (Sorrento Quay Travel and Cruise Centre) and Len Pasalich (Cathie Rice Travel).
More than one million Australians will cruise the world’s oceans and rivers this year and they already have plenty of choice in both ships and destinations. And the hot tips from our guests showed that the wide range available to cruisers is set to become more impressive.
Barry looked forward to a Mediterranean cruise with his children next year on a new ship, Carnival Vista, which he said will be especially suited to families. In Australian waters, he nominated Carnival Spirit as a good value-for-money ship for families considering their first cruise.
Jan previewed Regent Seven Seas Explorer, due to sail next year and touted as one of the most luxurious ships to be launched, and Len gave great insight into small-ship cruising along the Croatian coast — the birthplace of his parents.
Amid it all, the room pulsed with conversations of the world: climbing in New Zealand here, horseriding in the Snowy Mountains over there, one table sharing memories of walking the Amalfi Coast, plans hatched at another to tackle the Camino and to cruise the Irrawaddy.
And at evening’s end, after hands were shaken and tales of the world reached a conclusion, everyone received a “showbag” full of the latest tours and cruises, a signed copy of Stephen’s book Connected and a couple of exclusive offers.
“Will there be another,” smiling faces asked.
“Yes, we promise there will be.”
Special thanks must go to David Constantine, Julia Clark and Katie-rae Barr at Parmelia Hilton Perth, the Parmelia Hilton Perth catering team, Hay Shed Hill Wines, Mark Truscott and Staging Connections, videographer Kate Ferguson, Lianne Reid, Jodie Everett, Helen Power, April Brandis, Barry Downs, Jan Welch and Len Pasalich.
For more highlights from Travel Lounge, watch Kate Ferguson’s video feature at thewest.com.au/travel.
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