Peta Aberhart hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo / Supplied
December marks 37 years for House of Travel Calder & Lawson in Hamilton East. At its helm, retail manager Peta Aberhart has more than 25 years of travel experience. Here she discusses the biggest changes she’s seen over the decades.
Kia ora, my name is Peta. My curiosity for travel all began with a tea set. My mum had a Japanese tea set that, when held up to the light, revealed an image of a geisha inside the base of the cup. It was a gift from my Uncle Ken who travelled the world to far-off places like Russia (then the USSR), Europe, America and, of course, Japan. The teacup and his stories seemed exotic to me and I wanted to experience it all myself.
Was this what motivated you to pursue a career in travel?
Thanks to my uncle, travel was a fascination which led me to attend an event at House of Travel Calder & Lawson in the 1990s about planning your own OE. I was sold and applied for a UK working visa and that changed my life. The Kiwi girl from small-town Te Awamutu to the bustling city life of London. I saw an advert in the free weekly TNT magazine for a job with Contiki as a tour director and thought “Why not?”
That led me to years of exploring Europe while guiding groups of young travellers. On returning home I continued to work in the travel industry and found myself back working for the same company that helped me book my first trip – House of Travel.
How did your early experiences as a tour guide shape your perspective on the industry?
Working as a tour director in 2001 was the best way to experience Europe while getting paid. I led American high school students on charter tours through Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.
On the first day of my first tour, I met Giovanni, a Neapolitan bus driver who didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak Italian. We set off on a six-week journey from Rome to Madrid. Balancing history lessons for 36 students, co-ordinating with teachers, managing hotel accommodation, dietary needs and restaurant bookings was a baptism by fire.
But the experience taught me that travel has the power to turn strangers into family.
You’ve spent 25 years in travel and returned to where it all began. What’s changed the most over the years?
I started in the travel industry before the digital age reshaped how we navigate the world. Back then, mobile phones and GPS were for the elite. I relied on maps and memorised route notes to direct my drivers and navigate my way around Europe. Hours were spent in the library reading books and encyclopaedia to learn about European leaders, significant figures and historical events.
Restaurants and activities were pre-booked, but everything had to be re-confirmed standing in hot, cramped phone booths in places like Piazza Navona, Rome. What now takes seconds via text once took hours of effort.
I carried a paper diary filled with contact details, camcorder and film camera, and used traveller’s cheques for payments. We all carried a heavy copy of Lonely Planet, Europe on a Shoestring. I sent postcards home – but I still do!
If you could relive one moment from your 25-year journey in the travel industry, what would it be?
There are so many, but a few include arriving at Machu Picchu after four days on the Inca Trail, battling altitude sickness. Completing it with my brother, Ben, made it even more unforgettable.
My adventures in 50 countries have taken me to the farthest reaches of this Earth, like Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean.
Turning a corner in The Masai Mara and locking eyes with a lone bull elephant will remain etched in my memory forever. There is a reverence that elephants hold and there was a silent exchange of respect and wonder that passed between us.
Enduring a New York City blizzard - where the silence of a shut-down city was almost surreal - is another extraordinary memory.
What was the most surprising aspect of travelling in the 90s compared to today?
One of the biggest changes I’ve seen over the years is the shift from paper documents to digital. On my first overseas trip, I carried a paper airline ticket, irreplaceable and as important as a passport. Losing it meant buying a new one, and the necessity of carrying a paper document now seems archaic.
The digital revolution has transformed travel, making everything, from boarding passes to hotel bookings, accessible online from multiple digital access points. This shift not only makes travel more convenient but also reflects our growing environmental awareness, as many travellers choose digital options to reduce paper waste.
Crossing borders has also become much easier. In the 1990s, checkpoints and passport stamps with long queues was a regular part of travel. Today, many (but not all) borders are crossed with ease.
This month marks 37 years for House of Travel Calder & Lawson. How has the role of the travel agent changed over the past decades?
The role of a travel agent has changed with customers wanting personalised itineraries, expert advice and guidance. As a team, we’re not just travel professionals, we’re travellers too, and we live vicariously through the experiences of our clients. We craft itineraries that take them to once remote or inaccessible destinations, like the Subantarctic Islands on a luxurious 5-star cruise or trekking the renowned W Trek in Torres del Paine. We have firsthand knowledge and a love for exploration, too.
Do you think travel has become more accessible for the average person today, or are there new barriers to overcome?
Travel has become more accessible and budget-friendly, as there are more airlines, tour companies, and cruise ships operating to and from New Zealand, which help to drive costs down.
What trends or innovations in travel are you most excited about in the next 10 years?
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the travel industry is exciting. While there’s often talk about how AI might disrupt various jobs, I truly believe that, far from replacing us, it will enhance the work we do. It’s not something to fear, rather it’s something to embrace.
AI has the potential to completely streamline the way we work, helping us complete tasks faster and more efficiently. From automating administrative tasks to providing faster, more accurate data analysis, AI will give us more time to focus on what really matters, which is creating memorable travel experiences for travellers.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned through travel that you think everyone could benefit from?
Patience, flexibility and tolerance to roll with the punches are qualities that every traveller needs. I’m off to see the Northern Lights in Iceland in January. While this is an absolute dream trip, weather is unpredictable and, with the volcano in Iceland recently bubbling, there is a possibility the unexpected might disrupt my plans. But that’s the reality of life and travel and it makes unexpected travel moments more cherished.
Travel was once reserved for the wealthy and is now within reach for many people. Ultra-long-haul international flights are now commonplace. Gone are the days of bunny-hopping across the globe to get to the other side - it’s generally just one stop to most European destinations.
Airport experiences have changed using facial recognition and kiosks at airports, swimming pools now overlook runways. Airports are also exciting places for a layover with stunning architecture, amenities and innovation in technology.
Even travel attire has evolved over the past 40 years. In the past, flying was seen as a major event with Kiwis often dressing formally. Nowadays, travellers choose comfort and dress for the destination.
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