Jonny Walters

How long have you been working in travel industry and what type of roles have you held?

17 years. I started my career in travel after leaving school and receiving a scholarship from Tourism NSW. I then moved over to Qantas Holidays to work on a GSA helpdesk team for their inbound division. After that I moved over to be a Product Manager for Day Tours & Short Breaks at AAT Kings. From there, I then moved to Bill Peach Journey to be a Product/Operations Manager for Australia and New Zealand Touring. Moving on from there I headed to Expedia before packing my bags and heading to the UK to live and work. Over there I worked for a Private Aircraft company in a sales role. I then moved back to Australia and started with nib travel.

What sets nib apart from others in the industry?

There is a genuineness about the staff and the leaders at nib. They want to see you progress and grab your career by the horns and really go places. They care about your well-being and really want the best for you.

What’s been your most memorable experience from your career in the travel industry?

I was very fortunate to take part in a Taj Palaces famil throughout India when I was employed at Bill Peach Journeys. No words can describe the sights, smells, tastes and luxury that I experienced in the beautiful country, India.

How do you stay up to date on the latest travel trends and destinations?

I love reading the Travel Daily each day which provides amazing insights into the industry. My colleagues are also always up to date and willing to share information with me.

What do you think is the key to making a great travel itinerary?

It is the memorable and unique experiences you have that remain with you forever, the things that not everyone experiences when they visit that same place.

What's the most underrated travel destination in your opinion?

Israel – amazing diving down in the south in the Red Sea, the hustle and bustle of the cobble stone streets of Jerusalem, the lively city of Tel Aviv, the unique experience of floating in the Dead Sea – Israel has it all.

If you could travel with 3 famous people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Michael McIntyre – nothing better than having a good laugh whilst on holiday. Gordon Ramsay – I want to be shown all the local delicacies and where to find these in the best restaurants. Beyonce – sometimes all I want to do on holidays is sing and dance. Who better to do this with than the one and only, Beyonce.

Have you ever had a travel mishap or funny story that you'd like to share?

I got food poisoning whilst in Phuket. The next day we travelled to Phi Phi Island and I was standing in line with my mates at the hotel waiting to check in to our Hotel. The effects of the food poisoning came on so fast I had nowhere to run, I threw up on the wooden floors of the hotel check-in, in front of a large crowd of people.

My favourite holiday was...

A trip to Israel, Egypt, Jordan & Turkey that I took in 2015. A fantastic mix of countries and travelled with an amazing group of friends.