Midweek Interview with Billabong Retreat’s Paul von Bergen

Midweek Interview with Billabong Retreat’s Paul von Bergen

Travel Weekly’s Midweek Interviews are the digital equivalent to public streaking when it comes to revealing all, and today we speak to the founder of Billabong Retreat, Paul von Bergen.

The challenge for the industry is…

Balancing service levels with price

The things I like about my job…

Feedback from guests saying we have changed their lives

And the frustrations are…

Getting good staff and keeping them

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

Yoga teacher

Favourite airline?

Singapore – just love Changi airport

My proudest moment was…

At birth of my twins

The naughtiest thing I ever did was…

Cracked an egg on another kids head at primary school

I try to relax by…

Mountain bike riding

The last time I feared for my life was…

Mountain bike riding

If I can, I always try to avoid…

Falling off when mountain bike riding

I really wish I had…

My mum still alive

The best advice I’ve ever received was…

Family before work

I don’t understand why people…

Don’t look after their health

My greatest weakness is…

Bikinis

And my greatest strength is…

My drive

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

Give it to charity

If I was prime minister I would…

Change the voting system

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

Astronaut

I’ve always wanted to travel to…

The moon

My favourite holiday was…

Cleaning fast in Thailand

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]