01/03/2026
Twenty-five years ago, in February 2001, I had an idea β and opened a travel agency in Kings Langley. I still remember how nervous I felt taking that leap into the unknown.
Within months, Ansett Australia collapsed. Then the September 11 attacks shook the world β and the travel industry to its core. We genuinely wondered whether people would ever feel comfortable boarding a plane again. Soon after came the Bali bombings, followed by the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. At times, it felt as though the industry was cursed, and I questioned whether my new venture would be short-lived.
But the local community showed up. Their support carried us through those early years and helped keep our doors open.
Over time came waves of change β new technologies, new systems, new branding. From UTAG to Travelscene, then Travelscene American Express, and eventually Helloworld Travel β yet through it all, Hills Travel Centre stood strong.
To the incredible clients who have trusted me and the great staff who worked with me over the years, with your holidays, milestone celebrations, honeymoons, business trips, retirements, and family adventures β thank you.
It has been a privilege to help you create memories that will last a lifetime.
There have been good days and very hard days. One thing I learned early is that change is constant in this industry. The goalposts shift. The landscape evolves. You adapt β or you donβt survive.
When COVID hit in 2020, I vividly remember packing up my office, unsure if I would ever return. I never imagined the shutdowns would last for years, or that there would be so many days of wondering whether I could survive in an industry Iβve worked in since 1989. I certainly never imagined that just a few years later, my business would evolve into an entirely new model.
I wonβt pretend there havenβt been moments when Iβve come close to throwing in the towel. There have been many sleepless nights. But somehow, the clients β and this industry β always pulled me back in. Fortunately, the good has definitely outweighed the bad.
Twenty-five years on, Iβm still here: a self-employed travel agent who has been fortunate enough to experience incredible journeys, meet extraordinary people, and take my own family around the world for life-changing adventures.
My office nowadays is just me, working from home β very different from how I started, and nothing like what I once imagined. But COVID changed the game yet again and sent me in a new direction.
To the amazing clients who have trusted me with your travel plans over the years β thank you. I know you have countless options and ways to book travel, and it is never lost on me that you choose to entrust me with something so important. Thank you for your loyalty, your referrals, your repeat bookings, and your friendships. Thank you for allowing me to play a small part in your stories.
Together, I think weβve covered just about every corner of the globe. Heres to many more journeys for us all!