Our Sales Team

SHARON HANDO – Director of Sales

Sharon Hando, our Director of Sales at Travel the World, works tirelessly with our dedicated sales team to increase awareness, drive sales and deliver opportunities for our Travel Service Provider brands, as well as for our other key cruise line partners.

Sharon has been a key member of the team that has worked diligently to build business for our GSA brands such as Holland America Line and Ponant Yacht Cruises and Expeditions.  The great success of these efforts resulted in the cruise lines opening their own Australian offices.

Growing up within the industry (starting as “free labour” in her mother’s agency) has provided Sharon with many opportunities to combine her genuine interest in people and their travel dreams with her own travel experiences and knowledge.  It is this passion and experience that has assisted with the fulfilment of her current role and its varying responsibilities.

T: 0411 595 300 E: sharonh@traveltheworld.com.au

RACHEL JAVIER – Sales Manager (VIC/SA/TAS/NT)

Rachel started in the travel industry in 1982 as a Junior Allotment Clerk for one of Australia’s top wholesalers.  For over 17 years she worked her way up through the ranks, from Reservations to Product, Operations and finally becoming State Manager.

Rachel has been fortunate enough to have worked for many of the major Australian wholesalers in addition to Qantas Airlines.  After an extended maternity leave, Rachel joined Travel the World – Australia’s leading Travel Service Provider – in October 2011 to continue sharing her passion for travel and she has never looked back.

Representing premium brands in the TTW portfolio, along with a key partnership with Ponant, Rachel’s love for her position as Sales Manager VIC/TAS/NT can be seen in her dedication to go above and beyond.  She takes pride in exceeding expectations and providing exceptional customer service by both educating and assisting Travel Advisors with their clients’ travel journeys.

T: 0414 601 744 E: rachelj@traveltheworld.com.au

JUSTIN SOUTHERN – Business Development Manager (Virgin Voyages)

Justin Southern’s first role in the travel industry was with Flight Centre in North Sydney. After five years, His hometown of Canberra was calling, and he was offered a role with Harvey World Travel. It wasn’t too long before Justin moved into a Wholesale BDM role with Escape Holidays, which then became Harvey’s Choice Holidays as National Sales Manager.

In 2001, Justin started working for United Airlines as the Victorian Sales Manager for a period of 8 years. This was then followed by the role of State Sales Manager for Travelcube, an online hotel booking system for the trade. Justin’s passion for his role and the industry was shown when he became one of three finalists in the 2015 NTIA awards. His enthusiasm for each of the roles Justin has held was rewarded when he was offered the role of Sale Manager for Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic. Now his love for photography and wildlife became a full-time role that he lived and breathed.

Always keen on a new challenge but only one that he could be passionate about has led him to Travel the World and Virgin Voyages. To work with such an experienced team at Travel the World and represent a new brand coming to market is something Justin does not take for granted and he looks forward to all the challenges this role will bring.

T: 0451 246 747 E: justins@traveltheworld.com.au

PAM NIELSEN – Business Development Manager (Virgin Voyages – QLD/WA)

Pam spent 16 years in the New Zealand Travel & Tourism Industry based in Queenstown on the South Island before moving to Australia.

In June 2010, she jumped the ditch and joined Kirra Holidays as the Business Development Manager (BDM) for QLD & Northern NSW. When Anzcro acquired Kirra, she became the BDM for both companies. Her dedication earned her Best Representative in QLD twice.

New Zealand holds a special place in Pam’s heart. She favours snowboarding over beaches and has skied in NZ, the USA, and Europe.
In March 2018, Pam relocated to South Australia to join Journey Beyond (JB) in Adelaide, which then had 3 brands. Fast forward to January 2024, Pam is back living in QLD and has successfully brought 14 brands under the JB umbrella to the QLD market.

Pam is eager to delve into Virgin Voyages, her maiden cruising venture, and can’t wait to share her journey with you!

T: 0424 469 214 E: pamn@traveltheworld.com.au

ROBERT SHAW – Business Development Manager (Windstar)

Robert’s career in the travel industry begin in 1999 when he began working for Aviation Ground Handling looking after the check-in and load control for Sunstate Airlines in Rockhampton.  His experience and dedication to the industry landed him a contract role at Brisbane domestic airport with Sunstate Airlines in the Customer Service team thereafter, before gaining more experience in the retail space working for Flight Centre, Snowcene and finally at Oz Snow Adventures.  Robert’s passion for cruising began in 2012, when he was afforded the roles of Business Development Manager and National Key Accounts Manager for Royal Caribbean International looking after Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.  Robert has recently joined Windstar Cruises as the Australian Business Development Manager and is looking forward to building on his established relationships within the trade.

T: 0411 821 192 E: roberts@traveltheworld.com.au

TONI WYTHES – Business Development Manager (NSW/ACT)

With gypsy blood in her bones, Toni has a deep passion for travel, nature, and culture.

Toni has worked in Tourism and Science for over 25 years. She has travelled extensively through her tourism and scientific work in Ornithology, leading her to many places such as Antarctica, Europe, Africa, Asia, and outback Australia. She has worked and lived in many indigenous cultures and has a special connection with indigenous Australia including setting up the original Cultural Tourism Program at the Garma Festival in collaboration with Yothu Yindi Foundation.

In late 1999 Toni began working with World Expeditions. She worked through all aspects of the tourism business in outback Australia and Asia including being a tour guide, operations, product development and management.

In 2016 Toni studied for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and then returned and worked at World Expeditions as their Business Development Manager (BDM) in the international wholesale product and development area.

2020 created many changes and challenges which led Toni to set up her own Tourism consulting business doing small contracts in destination marketing and tourism planning, demonstrating her style and experience in travel.  In late 2023 Toni joined Travel the World (TTW) Sales and Marketing team as their Business Development Manager. Toni looks forward to growing the business, finding new opportunities in travel, and working with the team at TTW.

T: 0408 809 877 E: toniw@traveltheworld.com.au

DANA CRAVEN – Business Development Manager (NSW/ACT)

Dana’s love for travel started at a young age and continued into a career. She worked her way up from Office Junior, Leisure Domestic and then International Consultant before heading overseas to live in London and experience the corporate travel world. She continued to live overseas for many years, experiencing a Ski Season in Banff before enjoying a safari through Africa and heading home. Dana settled back into Sydney and worked for Fiji Airways and Virtuoso’s Island Escapes as the BDM. She has visited over 40 countries and had countless interactions with different cultures and languages. Her positive energy is infectious, and she loves nothing more than putting a smile on Clients’ faces.

Dana has recently joined the Travel the World (TTW) Sales and Marketing team as their Business Development Manager for Chiva-Som Hua Hin and Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Qatar.

T: 0404 091 929 E: danac@traveltheworld.com.au

PAMELA SPENCER – Manager – Groups & Charter

Born in Scotland, Pamela Spencer originally spent her time working in hospitality and completed travel within the hotel industry. It was only when Pamela moved to Australia in the late 1980’s that she became truly invested in travel. Working her way through all areas of the travel industry gave Pamela the valuable experience needed to decide that group travel was where her true passion lay.

Since 2004, Pamela has specialised in Groups & Charter for all types of travel including expedition, ocean cruising, river cruising, multigenerational and special interest groups as well as luxury tours for business and pleasure. During this time, Pamela also achieved certificates in sales and customer service as well as earning a degree in Ancient History, a CLIA Masters, and has travelled extensively with family and friends across the globe.

With such extensive experience organising extraordinary holidays, itineraries, and events for groups of all kinds, Travel the World cannot recommend anyone better than Pamela Spencer to plan your next adventure.

E: pamelas@traveltheworld.com.au