Debbie Rains has run Gallivanter Travel (previously Travel Associates) for 37 years and through a number of re-brands. Now, she is preparing to take a step back for her son Liam to manage the succession of the business. See how she did it!
Tell us about yourself and Gallivanter Travel.
Gallivanter Travel is a locally owned and operated travel business with stores in Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton.
We have been in business for 37 years and have previously traded as Harvey World Travel, Escape Travel and most recently Travel Associates. Each of these brands was part of a franchise arrangement, however with our latest rebrand, we have chosen to be an independent business.
I love the fact that I go to work every day with an amazing group of people, some of them working with me for over 20 years and three celebrating 30 years this year! I also love that I get to work with my daughter Brittany and son Liam, with Liam managing the succession of the business so we can be around for another 37+ years.
What has been the most challenging aspect of starting/owning Gallivanter Travel?
Being in the travel industry, we have had our fair share of challenges. You name it, I think we have endured it. From 11th September and other various terrorist attacks aimed to cause fear amongst people travelling, several financial crises when people simply couldn’t afford to travel and all the various flus such as Sars, Swine, Avian and then COVID restricting the ability to travel, we have managed to survive.
However the workforce shortages at present are probably the most challenging times of all. Everyone wants to travel, but like all businesses at present, we are desperate for more people.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am not actually a travel adviser and I love doing bank reconciliations!!!
What is the best piece of career or business advice you have ever received?
My mantra in business dealings is to be truthful and honest, and always do what you say you’re going to do.
The best piece of advice I have received came from my dear friend Jayne Arlett. Being a goal setter, I was always disappointed that I never seemed to achieve the goals I set, but Jayne pointed out that it was because I was always moving the goal post before I actually achieved that goal. She suggested I set a stretch target for the new goal but to make sure you keep the original goal and celebrate achieving it.
Business can be hard enough and so to celebrate the victories along the way help remind us why we do what we do.
Going forward, what is next on the cards for Gallivanter Travel?
Now that we have rebranded all our locations to Gallivanter Travel, we are ready to grow our teams.
With Liam managing the business, I’m ready to move into the next phase of my career as “Chief Travel Experiencer”, although no one believes that I will actually retire!
I’ll be trying to match my folks who are ticking off the countries visited to get to their 100 countries before they slow down, so I’ll be the one you see on our socials testing all the amazing different travel options we offer.
Happy for anyone to join me in this role, in fact we have chartered a couple of Viking departures in 2025, April and September, where we will be taking our clients to Egypt and experiencing the amazing Nile. Then in October 2025, we are chartering the amazing Emerald Azzurra for an exclusive Mediterranean cruise visiting Turkey and Greece.
Main image – Debbie Rains
Images Credits – All images supplied.
Read more “5 Minutes With…” articles or fill out the Submission Form and share your own story!
