Women in Travel: It’s Walshe Group’s Sonia Holt!

Women in Travel: It’s Walshe Group’s Sonia Holt!

We chat with Sonia Holt, Manager Business Development and Recruitment, The Walshe Group, on a different perspective to the ‘glass ceiling’, being flexible and keeping a sense of humour, in conjunction with the inaugural Women in Travel Awards in November.

Travel is an industry that complements a female skill set, including attention to detail, relationship building, time management, collaboration and congruent leadership.

Personally, I don’t believe in the glass ceiling. It is not the glass ceiling that holds women back but all too often a seeming default position to see their career as second best to their partner, and to take on the role of primary carer (rather than an evenly shared role). In real terms this is an all too common scenario that limits far too many incredible woman from achieving their fullest career potential. I think the camaraderie that we share within the industry is unique and special and not to be taken for granted.

Also I love the diversity within the travel industry that I have been fortunate to experience; from the airline industry to recruitment and business development and now the opportunity to represent Visit Flanders.  There really is no such thing as an ordinary day.

Someone more astute than me once said “perfection is the enemy of success”. My priority is to lead by example and to be fair and transparent. I don’t believe in giving anything less than 110% but that doesn’t mean I always get it right; life is way too short to pretend you have all the answers.

Personally, the best sense of achievement has always come from times when I was out of my comfort zone and had no choice but to back myself. I think the best way forward is to work hard, be passionate, stay flexible, do things that keep surprising yourself and others around you, and above all keep your sense of humour.

Travel Weekly is proud to present the inaugural Women in Travel Awards in Sydney on 17 November.

Winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on 17 November in Sydney. Earlybird tickets are on sale.

Any queries, contact Daisy Melwani on 0401216294 or drop her a line here.

Read other Women in Travel interviews in this series:

Sarina Bratton, Ponant

Sarah Anderson, GTI Tourism

Penny Lion, Tourism Australia

Kim Mason, TravelManagers

Simla Sooboodoo, Hands On Journeys

Eliza Woodward, SmartFlyer Australia

Jennifer Vandekreeke, Carnival Cruise Line

Karin Sheppard, IHG

Vanessa Stavrou, Contiki

Bella Tipping, Airline Activist

Cinzia Burnes, Helloworld

Jess Anscombe, Flight Centre

Ainslie Hunt, TMS Asia Pacific

principal-sponsors-block

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 […]