Midweek Catch-up with Lea Seguier’s Craig Farrell

This week, Lea Seguier’s director of sales revealed that his celebrity crush holidays at one of the properties he manages. He did not confirm what he plans to do with that information, however.

What’s your main goal for this year?

To visit as many of the properties as possible that we represent.

Lea has carefully grown the business and hand-picked the properties we represent. So it’s important for me to become an expert on each of them as well – learn what will appeal to the Australian and NZ market, and bring that knowledge back to Australia so we can help our trade partners create the best possible experience for their clients.

What’s your favourite thing about working in the travel industry?

The people. Travelling to incredible places is great, but after the isolation we all experienced over the past two years, it really hit home how much that connection with the trade, other suppliers and clients means.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Golf is my passion outside of work and family. I play a bit of tennis and enjoy watching a range of sports. Love finding a book I can’t put down too.

Have you managed to do any travelling since restrictions began to ease (domestic or international)?

Yes, I was very fortunate to travel to Europe late last year while I was working for PONANT. I visited 6 countries, some while cruising, and it was so good to feel that freedom again – and to see the world coming back to life.

What’s your favourite travel company, besides the one you work for?

PONANT! I spent half a decade there until recently, and if not for the opportunity to join Lea and build something special of our own, I would still happily be there – I love the unique destinations they travel to in luxury, and they take sustainability seriously.

If you could invite three famous guests (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you choose?

Tiger Woods, Jessica Chastain, Leonardo DiCaprio – Leo actually holidays each year at one of our properties so that might not be as difficult as the other two!

What’s something positive you’ve witnessed or experienced since the global pandemic hit?

It was really inspiring to see how companies adapted, whether it was going to a home-based model, or changing their focus completely. I felt the industry rallied around each other as well and brought some people and companies closer together than they perhaps were before.

What’s your advice for others in the travel industry on coping with the global pandemic?

It’s time to come back! So many great agencies are crying out for staff at the moment as they can’t keep up with the demand.

There seems to be a lot of people reluctant to rejoin the industry for a range of reasons, perhaps the uncertainty. But the current booking trends don’t show any sign of slowing up.

What book and/or TV show can you not get enough of lately?

I loved Ozark but the disjointed final season threw me a bit. And honestly, during the winter, the main TV I watch is AFL and AFL-related programs!

Do you have any travel goals for 2022?

I’ll see a lot more of Greece and France this year as much of my portfolio is in those two countries, and potentially some new partners! And I’m looking forward to showing them to some agents on upcoming famils as well. Haven’t we all missed those?!

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Craig Farrell interivew Lea Seguier midweek catch-up midweek interview profile