It’s a busy time of year if you’re in the flowers business (hint hint fellas, if we say we don’t want flowers for Valentine’s Day, we don’t really mean it). We caught up with Xanthi Kouvatas from Roses Only, to get the lowdown on the role travel plays in her world.
Xanthi Kouvatas
1. Tell us a little about Roses Only and what your day-to-day role involves?
I am the Chief Marketing Officer for the Roses Only Group, Australia’s leading online florist retailer. I work with a talented team who manage all of our marketing campaigns, product development and sales initiatives.
2. How much travel is involved with your job? What destinations has your role taken you to?
My career has taken me extensively throughout and frequently to the United States and South East Asia, including a year living in Hanoi, Vietnam. For Roses Only, we source the world’s finest roses from Columbia and the Andes region and we have just launched Roses Only Singapore.
3. Tell us about your favourite holiday?
That’s an exceptionally hard one! My first solo trip overseas as a university student was to Paris and that left an unforgettable impression on me. Trekking Macchu Pichu was amazing, up in the clouds with an abundance of natural delights and Mayan ruins. And New York never fails to inspire.
4. What is the best hotel you have ever stayed at?
Chiva Som in Thailand left me feeling like Cleopatra. They even have a pillow menu! At the other end of the spectrum, Sapa Rooms in Sapa, northern Vietnam, was a simple but charming hotel with amazing hospitality and breakfasts.
5. What is your number one piece of travel advice?
Get off the beaten track, especially when it comes to food. I always ask the locals where they eat and proceed to eat there. I love my food and many of my fondest travel memories revolve around food.
6. What celebrity would you most like to find yourself sitting next to on a plane?
Tina Fey, for a witty, intelligent conversation with a bit of politics and hopefully some impersonations thrown in.
7. Packing: do you roll, fold or shove it all in? Any tips to share?
Fold. But firstly I lay out everything on my bed and count out the number of day, evening and any special requirement outfits that I require for the trip. I focus on clothes that I can mix and match and avoid standalone pieces.
8. Any tips to share for managing jetlag?
It might sound boring, but I never drink on flights. I would rather arrive feeling as fresh as possible (which admittedly is not very fresh after a long flight!) and enjoy myself at my destination.
9. How do you stay healthy while travelling?
I always eat a healthy, substantial breakfast – that will power you up for the whole day.
10. Where is your next on your travel wish list?
Brazil for the 2014 World Cup would be amazing.