Meet the Team

Benita Molitor

benita@prestigetravel.com.au

You can pack a lot of travel into 28 years, and that is exactly what Benita has done.

Benita's career started at the South Australian Tourism Commission and it was during that time she realised her career would be in International travel.  Her passion for all things 'travel' lead her to start working at Hans Lees Travel, a German based agency, where the clientele included Eastern European, this suited Benita perfectly as she has Latvian heritage and can speak the language.

Keen to share where she's travelled to and what she has seen, Benita offered a fabulous list of incredible places and experiences;

Some of the places I've travelled to are India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Africa, South America, China, Vietnam, Croatia, Spain, France, many Western Europe countries, Italy, Positano, Cambodia, Laos, Russia, Latvia, Hawaii, Asia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Thailand, Dubai, Oman, New Zealand, Mauritius, Borneo, Cancun, Canada , USA (coast to coast).

Recently Benita has added to her travel portfolio a fabulous trip to Scandanavia & Iceland featuring the Northern Lights & Portugal . 

I've experienced some amazing things like Ziplining in Alaska, Washing elephants in Myanmar in a fresh water river, Bike riding through Vietnam, 5* crystal cruising in Alaska, cruising through Croatia & the Caribbean, enjoying a White Xmas & Ice Lake Fishing in Minnesota with my children, taking a chance on driving in Mexico to see the famous ruins of Chichen Itza, swimming in the Nile, salsa dancing lessons in Cuba, Sunset camel ride in the Sahara Desert in Morocco, Helicopter through the Grand Canyon, balloon ride over Cappadocia & Luxor and most recently experiencing the Holi Colour Festival in India.

I have travelled with various tour companies which include G Adventures, Intrepid, Insight Vacations, Gecko's and have organised small groups that I have escorted through Vietnam, India & Myanmar.  By mixing it up, this has given me a great perspective on how to tailor / suit travel styles for every client.

Over the years I have changed the way I see & travel the world, which started with the traditional backpacking through Europe, to family holidays, travelling independently (solo) and now more recently with small groups of friends sharing similar interests. The best part of my travelling has been to mix it up and never keep it the same.

So what is it about the industry that keeps Benita coming back for more?

"The diversity of clients and their holiday destinations along with their wish / bucket lists on what they want to do on their holidays and how to achieve that on a daily basis, I just love it"

And when we asked Benita what she thinks she's really good at doing at work, she replied

"I would like to think I am good at listening to my clients when they are explaining & planning their holidays and then helping them to have a relaxing & worry free holiday."

Cathy Harley

cathy@prestigetravel.com.au

Cathy thrives on creating detailed independent itineraries using knowledge gained from her 30 plus years in the travel industry. Her list of visited destinations is vast, and covers most continents, yet she continually seeks to discover places new and foreign. Every effort is made to ensure that all clients, whether intrepid travellers or those planning their trip of a lifetime, embark on an adventure that exceeds their expectations.

When we asked Cathy about her most memorable moments, her list included some of the most magical places on earth, here are the highlights.

Game viewing in Kenya, seeing my first Pride of Lion  and then getting charged by an Elephant at Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe are experiences I will never forget. But there are many more wonderful moments Cathy shared like, climbing Sri Pada / Adams Peak in Sri Lank for the Sunrise, watching her son's face as he visited Disneyland for the first time, seeing the Condor fly in the Colca Canyon in Peru, hiking through the villages around Sapa in Vietnam, enjoying the stunning blue water in the Maldives, then there was the stay at Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel in Jodphur India and watching and listening to the Glacier Ice thunder into the water in Alaska, these were all amazing experiences.

Cathy has visited so many countries, here is her magnificent list.

Bali, Fiji, Norfolk Island, Tahiti, Western Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, a South Pacific Cruise, Caribbean Cruise , Alaskan Cruise & Vancouver, India, Sri Lanka where Cathy lived for one year as an exchange student many years ago and has been back several times, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Vietnam, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, European River Cruise,  Contiki Tour, Insight Tour of Germany, Austria. Trafalgar Tour of Prague and Germany. Trafalgar Tour of the UK as a tour escort. Cathy has also travelled extensively to Paris, Switzerland, Drive Republic Ireland, 4 weeks UK drive, London, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan by Rail and New Zealand. Dubai, Egypt, USA and two weeks around New York, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, San Diego and Las Vegas plus Disneyland three times.

If this isn't enough, Cathy has also travelled to Peru, Bolivia, Buenos Aires, Playa del Carmen Mexico and the Maldives. Plus she has travelled extensively through Australia.

On her "still to visit list" are;  Zanzibar / Tanzania, Bhutan, Cambodia/Laos, Scandinavia and the Arctic, Maritimes Canada and the New England Coast of the USA   

So what is it about the industry that keeps Cathy coming back for more?

"I love that my job changes so much within the space of one day.  I can be working on an itinerary through Africa for clients and then have to immediately switch to an 18th century Hotel in rural France & then back to a Disneyland holiday for other clients"

And when we asked Cathy what she thinks she's really good at doing at work, she replied

"I think my specialty is helping first time travellers  plan their once in a lifetime trip or their 'first' holiday overseas. Because I am well travelled and have a real eye for detail, I love the intricate elements of planning and coming up with ideas to make the trip a really special one."

"Many of my clients booked their very first overseas holiday some 20 years ago and I am still looking after their holiday arrangements today, this is really special and I value their business so very much."

Gail Russo

gail@prestigetravel.com.au

In recent years , Gail says much of her personal time is spent travelling to the USA to visit family including her 92 year old Mom but her personal passion and where she says she would return at every opportunity is Africa. " I came to this obsession quite late in my career " says Gail .   " I made my first visit at the request of my then boss & suddenly just like that... I was hooked.  What's not to love ? The exciting wildlife , the amazing Lodges , Camps & Resorts , the dust , the sunsets - the adventure of it ALL .  There is something quite primal about hearing Lions roar late at night not far from the other side of my canvas walls . Everyone should visit Africa at least once and there is a trip that will suit every age and budget.  My passion is to help plan that trip " .

So what is it about the industry that keeps Gail coming back for more ?

"There have been so many changes to travel patterns over the years - where people want to go , how they want to get there and what they want to do when they arrive.  The continuing changes in trends keeps our profession exciting and vibrant . But mainly I love the relationships one develops with clients over the years .  I still work with clients I met more than 30 years ago & now I am also planning travel for their children and grandchildren.  I value the friendships I have made with these people and love that they are still with me ! "

And when we asked Gail what she thinks she's really good at doing at work, she replied;

"Attention to detail has always been a priority to me.   Thinking ahead and making a travel plan based on what will work best for the clients' needs and then making sure all the 'I's are dotted and 'T's are crossed.  I also work very well under pressure , a skill that was learned early through my years of handling corporate travel where everything can happen at the last minute.  This also translates well to leisure travellers , plans can change suddenly due to personal situations or world events.  It is why people use travel agents - we are here for them not only to plan their travel but if they need us after they leave home. "