Stepping out of her Wanaka, New Zealand based office, Pamela Simpson tells e-Travel Blackboard why Egypt is still at the top of her travel bucket list and why George Clooney would be her number one celebrity travel buddy.

e-Travel Blackboard: What drew you into the travel industry?
I was trained in retail with a strong emphasis on customer service. When offered a management role at a remote Lodge in Fiordland, South Island I jumped at the opportunity.  

e-Travel Blackboard: Who do you most admire and see as a role model in travel?
Jaume Tàpies the President of Relais & Chateaux. He is the owner of a lovely Relais & Chateaux property, El Castell de Ciutat in the Pyrenees close to Andorra, in Spain, which expresses the warm hospitality of his family. He is charismatic, speaks sevenlanguages, and is committed to the growth of the Relais & Chateaux in Australia and New Zealand.

e-Travel Blackboard: You’re on the property and you’ve left your lunch at home, what’s your favourite dish created by Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet’s award winning chef James Stapley to dine on?
Vietnamese Chicken salad with fresh Vietnamese mint from Chef James garden-light, fresh and so tasty!

e-Travel Blackboard: Of the activities available at the Lodge (Walking, Cycling, Winery Tours, Eco-Tour of Lake Wanaka, Flight Seeing, Classic Flights, Horse Riding Fishing and Heli-Skiing), which is your favourite and why?
Walking, cycling and the winery tours. We are blessed with fantastic tracks & trails, many of which take you around the edge of Lake Wanaka and into the Mt Aspiring National Park.  There are also many beautiful vineyards in this region producing outstanding pinot noir.

e-Travel Blackboard: During time away from the Lodge, where are our readers most likely to find you holidaying?
In France or Italy enjoying the lifestyle and food; or  in New Zealand with my husband Brett & welsh terrier Billie at our farm in the Waitaki Valley, or  boating on lake Wanaka.  

e-Travel Blackboard: What three items always make the must-pack list when travelling?

1. Elegant black trousers.
2. Dress Jeans
3. Silk scarves including favourites by Hermès

e-Travel Blackboard: Name three destinations on your bucket list.

1. Eygpt.
2. South America
3. Greece.

e-Travel Blackboard: What’s a memorable travel experience you’ve had (good or bad)?
Without a doubt boating in the Whitsundays in the midst of a tropical storm. We survived the experience, and the adventure makes a fun dinner party story! 

e-Travel Blackboard: If you could travel the world with any celebrity, which would it be?
George Clooney as long as he enjoys the simple things in life-good food, good wine and plenty of laughter. 

e-Travel Blackboard: A genie grants you one wish what would it be?
To remain healthy & happy all the days of my life and to never loose my sense of humor.