One of the things I love about the travel industry is that it’s filled with passionate people who genuinely want to share the places they love.

Six years ago, when the world had stopped travelling, a group of women in the travel industry came together online to support one another. We shared ideas, encouraged each other, and tried to navigate an incredibly challenging time for our businesses. That’s where I first met Cathy Gotfried.

Although we both live in Canada and have both spent decades in the travel industry, our paths had never crossed before then. Over the years we stayed in touch, sharing our passion for travel and building a friendship founded on mutual respect and a belief that meaningful travel has the power to change lives.

If you travelled with us on our previous journey to Bali, you’ll understand why Cathy fell in love with it. Bali isn’t just a place she visits—it’s a place she knows intimately. Her deep knowledge of the island, its culture, traditions, people and hidden treasures is something few can match and the reason we’ve partnered with her to host our Blissful Bali tour.

Earlier this month, while vacationing in Western Canada, Cathy and I finally had the opportunity to meet in person. We spent a wonderful afternoon together talking about travel, sharing stories, and laughing about how long it had taken us to finally meet face-to-face.

People often ask me how I find our wonderful Broad Escapes Tour Hosts. The answer is simple: I look for people who are exceptional at what they do and who genuinely care about creating unforgettable experiences for our travellers. Cathy embodies all those qualities. She has built an outstanding reputation as a Bali specialist, and I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather have showcasing this remarkable island to our BE travellers.

Our partnership is also wonderfully timely. Cathy recently shared that she’s preparing for retirement, making our Blissful Bali departure one of the final tours she’ll host. I’m incredibly grateful that our travellers will have the opportunity to experience Bali through her eyes and benefit from the knowledge, local connections and passion she’s spent years developing.

Sometimes life has a way of bringing the right people together at exactly the right time. I’m thankful our paths crossed when they did, and even more excited that our Broad Escapes community will have the chance to travel with Cathy on what promises to be another truly unforgettable journey through Bali.

I can’t wait for you to meet her!

If Bali has been calling your name, I hope you’ll join Cathy for this very special journey. With only a limited number of spaces remaining—and one of the final opportunities to experience Bali with someone who has been sharing her love of the island since 1983—I encourage you to reserve your place soon. She can’t wait to welcome you on our Blissful Bali journey next April.