Gina Silverstone

With over 35 years in hospitality and luxury travel, Gina feels very blessed to have experienced so many exhilarating places, from 5-star opulence in the Maldives to camping in the foothills of Kilimanjaro, from trekking the Inca Trail to climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

She grew up in Bromley, Kent, and began her career in conference and banqueting at some of London’s grand hotels, including The Portman, The Strand Palace and what’s now the Mandarin Oriental.

Travel was always in her blood – her parents were keen travellers themselves – and after taking time out to raise a family, the chance to move into the industry properly came along and she jumped at it, joining Beaver Travel back in 2001 and never looking back.

Gina is also an Aussie Specialist.

Her husband is just as keen a traveller as she is, and given the choice, the two of them lean towards adventurous holidays: Costa Rica’s rainforests, South Korea, Japan, the sensory overload of India or South Africa. A good city break always goes down well too: Bilbao, Krakow, Porto and pretty much anywhere in Italy are among their favourites.

The wish list only ever grows: an Alaskan cruise, the Silk Road, Chile, the Galápagos, Colombia and the Northern Lights are all on it.

Recently, she spent time doing conservation work in Borneo’s rainforests with orangutans and pygmy elephants before an incredible trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the latest from her dream trip list.

For Gina, there’s nothing like hearing excited stories from clients when they return from their adventures and sensing their anticipation as they start planning the next big trip.

The Travel Bit

• Favourite destination you’ve ever visited? Costa Rica
• Dream destination still on the bucket list? Colombia
• Favourite hotel or resort? Villa D’Este, Lake Como/ Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, Costa Rica
• Most underrated destination in your opinion? Northern Spain
• One destination everyone should visit at least once? Anywhere you can have up-close wildlife encounters

The Work Bit

• Your specialist area? Australia/ Japan/ Peru
• Favourite destination to recommend to clients? Japan
• Top travel tip for customers? Put your phone away and live in the moment

This or That

• Beach or city? City, but don’t mind a beach occasionally
• Cruise or all-inclusive? Neither! Prefer to explore and enjoy local restaurants
• Summer sun or winter escape? Summer

The Personal Bit

• Three words your colleagues would use to describe you? Helpful, caring, fun
• One fun fact people don’t know about you? Paul McCartney once corrected my spelling!
• What do you also enjoy? Theatre, live music, comedy and the odd art gallery, though a few hours with family or friends is always the best therapy
• Favourite way to spend a weekend? Enjoying live music with friends

Quick-Fire Questions

Window or aisle? Window
Must-pack item? Insect repellent – they love me!
Favourite holiday drink? Aperol Spritz
If you could hop on a plane today, where would you go? Australia, to see my daughter