Hey, it's
Renee Stanton-Defaria!
General Manager Sales, Goway Travel
How have you been coping during the last nine months and how have you been keeping busy?
I had a baby, Brody, in April, so he has been keeping me very busy. (Yes, I had a COVID-19 baby, right in the peak of it all.) As an Australian, I was fortunate enough to have both of my parents fly in on the last flight from Australia to Canada. They arrived 30 minutes before the border shut. They both stayed for three months (now I know why everyone says you need your mum when you have your first baby). It was a crazy time as we were all in lockdown, but Brody kept us all very busy and it was lovely to spend quality time with my parents and my newborn. My parents left in June and as my husband was laid off due to COVID-19, we decided to make the most of our time together, as we knew that we would never get back these precious months. So we purchased an RV and went travelling around Ontario. With our three-month old baby and dog in tow we discovered what this beautiful province had to offer. All in all, I must say that the summer of 2020 will be one that I will never forget. I returned back to work in September and have enjoyed connecting with our travel partners, albeit via many virtual Zoom gatherings.
“This year has definitely allowed the time for everyone to reflect on what’s important to them and I think travel is one of those things many people have realized they hold dearly. In fact, I think that travel will become more prominent and the so-called bucket list destinations will become very popular, with everyone wanting to take the opportunity to see them when they can.”
Renee Stanton-Defaria
Goway
What has been something positive that’s come out of this whole situation for you?
Taking a step back and really being in the moment. 2019 was a record breaking year for Goway, but also one that saw me travelling a lot. Now as a new mum, I appreciate working from home and having the extra time with my family. COVID-19 really has allowed for everyone to reassess what’s important in life and not to take anything for granted. It’s made me so appreciative of the company that I work for and the past 17 years working in the travel industry. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What do you miss most about travelling?
COVID-19 didn’t stop me from travelling. It just changed the way I travel. Instead of hopping on a plane, I hopped in my car and RV. Canada is such a beautiful country so I’m taking this time to see my own backyard. Although I would be lying if I didn’t say that I miss hopping on a plane and arriving into a foreign country. There really is no feeling like it.
If you could pick just one, what’s the next Goway tour you want to embark on and why?
Kenya. I was fortunate enough to do my first African adventure in 2017 to South Africa. For the first time in a long time I was absolutely blown away and I fell in love with the destination immediately. There really is nothing like it when you experience your first game drive. That’s why I’d love to go back to the continent and experience more of its incredible wildlife while learning about a new culture.
Is there something that you think a lot of people may not know about Goway?
There are 39 different languages that are spoken by our staff at Goway. We are truly a multicultural company representing 45 different nationalities. As such, we celebrate various different national holidays throughout the year. It’s a very fun place to work.
How has Goway shifted strategies during the pandemic?
As you may know, 2020 marked GOWAY’s 50th anniversary. Unfortunately, it was not quite the year that we were expecting although it has allowed us to re-focus and invest in the company’s future to ensure another 50 years of success. As a result, we have a team that’s battle-tested and really prepared for that inevitable return to travel.
As you said, the pandemic put Goway’s anniversary plans on hold. What can you tell us about what’s in store for 2021?
We do hope to celebrate Goway’s anniversary next year, although it’s still a bit early to make any plans. What I can tell you is that behind-the-scenes we are working diligently to deliver the best product range to market, we are launching a new agent incentive platform, and we will have a new robust reservation system that will see our delivery to market quicker than before. There will be a lot of exciting announcements in 2021, so stay tuned.
Are you noticing any interesting booking trends, whether it’s destinations selling well for future travel or what types of trips travellers are interested in?
We have definitely seen a pickup in our luxury and group business offerings. Our group division is booming. In fact, sales have now exceeded bookings from last year. Part of this success has been due to the “book your bubble and go” concept. The majority of our requests coming through are to accommodate more intimate experiences, whether it be for a group of friends celebrating a milestone or for multi-generational families. As for our FIT business, luxury bookings are coming through regularly. Clients are currently locking in their future bucket-list trips and our average bookings value is higher than what it was in 2019. People are wanting to maximize their time away and experiences in destination.
There’s been a lot of talk about the industry coming out better on the other side of COVID-19. What are your hopes?
This year has definitely allowed the time for everyone to reflect on what’s important to them and I think travel is one of those things many people have realized they hold dearly. In fact, I think that travel will become more prominent and the so-called bucket list destinations will become very popular, with everyone wanting to take the opportunity to see them when they can. People will probably worry less about the cost of a trip and will want more quality experiences in-destination, to travel with loved ones again, and to not take life for granted. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that our existence on planet earth can often be shorter than we think and to appreciate the world while we are here.
How did you get into travel and how has travel impacted your life?
I guess you could say travel has always been in my blood. I took my very first trip overseas when I was six months old to Fiji. Having a mother that worked for Qantas, I was very fortunate to travel around the world as a child and teenager. In fact, I have visited over 56 Goway destinations. When I graduated from university, I entered the travel industry at 22 and haven’t looked back. I honestly couldn’t imagine a world without travel. It is my passion and I love to share my experiences and help people’s travel dreams come to life. Travel has impacted me in so many ways. I met my husband in Canada. My child is Canadian. I have family and friends throughout the world. I’ve lived in the UK, Canada, and Australia. The list of ways it has impacted me is endless. Travel has made me the person I am today.
