Midweek interview with Back-Roads Touring’s Daryl Raven

Midweek interview with Back-Roads Touring’s Daryl Raven

This week we sat down and picked the brain of Daryl Raven, the Global General Manager for Back-Roads Touring Co.

The challenge for the industry is…

Ensuring our industry stays true to its values of providing quality tourism products, and not allowing cowboys to milk the ‘cash-cow’ that they perceive tourism to be.

The things I like about my job…

Influencing people in such positive ways. It’s amazing to go to work each day knowing that you’re helping people have their own life changing experiences.

And the frustrations are…

Not enough time in the day, nor enough free time to go and visit all the places we enable our customer to go!

If I didn’t work in travel I would be…

Running a small beach side café/bar somewhere in the sun!

Favourite airline?

Air New Zealand

My proudest moment was…

Being compared to my grandfather. He’s the best man I know by a long long way – so it was a massive compliment.

The naughtiest thing I ever did was…

Nothing more sinister than breaking too many windows as a kid – cricket balls, rugby balls… you name it!

I try to relax by…

Playing sport… any bat, ball, or racquet will do – I don’t break as many windows nowadays so it’s far more relaxing.

The last time I feared for my life was…

In an Uber careering across NYC, from JFK to Newark to catch a replacement flight!

If I can, I always try to avoid…

Bad coffee, and window seats on a full plane.

I really wish I had…

A dollar for every flight I’ve taken whilst working in the tourism industry!

The best advice I’ve ever received was…

The man who chases 2 rabbits.. catches none.

I don’t understand why people…

Don’t travel.

My greatest weakness is…

Coffee!

And my greatest strength is…

Surrounding myself with great like-minded people. That’s the true key to success!

If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would…

Buy a boat… a big one!

If I was Prime Minister I would…

Subsidise travel for young people – the best life lesson you can learn!

If I could be someone else for one day I would be…

On holiday!

I’ve always wanted to travel to…

Patagonia – It just looks like another world!

My favourite holiday was…

Sailing in Croatia! Amazing landscapes, Phenomenal experience!

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]