Virtuoso’s first cruise ambassador and Owner and Managing Director of Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel, Melinda Gregor, shares industry insights and highlights of her 39-year career.
Melinda Gregor (pictured right) says being named Virtuoso’s first Cruise Ambassador was “a huge shock, but a nice surprise”.
“It’s lovely to be recognised because I’ve done a lot of work with the cruise industry over the years.”
She is too modest. Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel, the Noosa, Queensland-based business she founded in 2008 with her brother, has been a finalist several times in CLIA’s Cruise Agency of the Year awards and won many awards from luxury cruise lines for best-performing agency.
Gregor is also a CLIA Master Cruise Consultant and has also been a CLIA Cruise Consultant of the Year finalist.
How did you get into the travel business?
I started with Qantas Holidays back in 1985, when I was only 18. I was employed as a junior trainee and worked in different departments within the company – it was a great learning experience.
That led to working all over the world when I was in my twenties, and I then spent three years leading tour groups through Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. Egypt is still one of my favourite destinations. I’m always happy to go back there.
When I returned to Australia, I worked for Abercrombie & Kent in Melbourne managing the outbound division. After five years, I wanted to escape the cold weather and city life and went about as far away as you can go, to the Kimberley, where I was assistant manager and then manager at El Questro Emma Gorge Resort.
Two years into my contract, I got Ross River virus and went to our family house in Noosa to recover. That was it! Noosa was my sweet spot in between big-city living and remote living. The weather is lovely, so I’ve been here for 20 years now.
Tell us a little more about the Virtuoso Cruise Ambassador award?
The award recognises a Virtuoso advisor who has a passion for cruising, is always willing to share knowledge and help others grow their cruise business and deeply engages with cruise partners. It recognises a Virtuoso advisor whose commitment to the network’s cruise partners stands out for their support, amplification and engagement.
How long has your agency been a Virtuoso member, and what does that mean for you, the team and your clients?
We (our team of seven in the office and two independent contractors) rejoined Virtuoso in February 2016. Virtuoso membership means we have exclusive access and connections to luxury travel partners, which give our clients exclusive benefits, inclusions and preferential treatment by our hotel and cruise partners worldwide.
What led you to specialise in luxury and expedition cruising?
When we started Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel 16 years ago, we made a conscious decision to focus on luxury small ship and expedition cruising. Partly because it’s the way I like to cruise and travel, and partly because it is financially beneficial to the business.
How do you keep your luxury clients coming back, and how do you encourage non-cruisers to take a cruise?
The most important thing is to take the time to ensure you book the right cruise line and experience for your client. If you get them on the right ship for them initially, they will be a cruiser and client for life!
We have just had clients return from a four-month trip to Europe and beyond that involved Virtuoso hotels, villas, cruises and small-group tours. A lot of time-planning and co-ordinating went into the trip and we were thrilled that the clients dropped in when they got back with a thank-you card and gifts for the staff.
What trends are you seeing in the luxury cruise and luxury expedition sectors?
New luxury ships such as Silversea’s Silver Nova, Silver Ray, Explorer Journeys’ Explorer I and II and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are like boutique hotels. The trend is about encouraging non-cruisers to go cruising – these ships are beautifully designed and guests have the added advantage over staying in a luxury hotel of sailing into a different port or city every day. It’s the best of both worlds.
What are three or four standout luxury cruises and/or destinations for you?
Antarctica is a trip of a lifetime. I am lucky enough to have done it twice and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The Galapagos archipelago is another favourite, as is cruising the Nile.
I recently sailed in the Arctic on Silver Endeavour, which is probably the most luxurious expedition ship out there. And you can never go past a Mediterranean cruise on a small luxury ship that calls in at smaller ports such as Cassis, St Tropez, Taormina, Portovenere and Monemvasia.
Alaska and Papua New Guinea are still on my wish list. As well as Egypt, New York a favourite place that I am always happy to return to.
What advice would you give to someone starting a career as a travel advisor?
Listen and learn from those around you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your team members. Keep yourself up to date with what is happening in the industry by reading all the travel trade news. Attend supplier events, do webinars, and when an opportunity comes along to experience a product, jump on it. The best way to learn is by experiencing the product yourself.
For more information, visit Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel.
