Specialties
Adventure, All-Inclusive Holiday, Business Travel, Cruise, Culture & HeritageFrom luxury cruises to off-the-beaten-path adventures, Lauren Zischke’s travel planning expertise has earned her prestigious accolades, including Travel and Leisure’s “Corporate Employee of the Year” in 2017, and the coveted “Most Outstanding Corporate Travel Consultant” title at the National Travel Industry Awards in 2023.
Joining the team at Travel Associates Runaway Bay with over two decades in the travel industry, Lauren’s passion for exploration has taken her to 38 countries across the globe. She has a particular love for the diverse cultures and landscapes of Cambodia, India, Japan, the Maldives, Greece and Antarctica. “Somehow, the more I travel, the more my bucket list grows,” says Lauren. “Next up, I’m dreaming of a small-ship Antarctic cruise, an East African safari including a relaxing stay in Zanzibar, and a magical Christmas in Lapland with my family.”
Specialising in ultra-luxury, river, expedition and solo cruises, Lauren’s expertise truly shines at sea. She has sailed with Ponant, Seabourn, Hurtigruten and Princess Cruises, bringing invaluable first-hand insight to every voyage she designs. Perhaps you’re longing for a thrilling rail journey through rugged landscapes instead? From the Rocky Mountaineer to The Ghan and Australia’s Indian Pacific, Lauren has experienced it all, collecting stories and unforgettable moments she now weaves seamlessly into her clients’ itineraries.
Reflecting on her most memorable travel moments, she says: “A standout was New York with my husband and our 14-month-old son. As we strolled down Fifth Avenue, he said his first real word, ‘Happy.’ It’s a core memory that always makes me smile.” These deeply personal travel experiences shape the way Lauren designs journeys for others. She shares: “Travel is everything to me and now I get to see the world in an even more exciting way, through my children's eyes.”
Whether you're dreaming of a remote Antarctic expedition or a culinary tour through Europe, Lauren is here to turn your travel dreams into a vibrant reality.
Experience
21 Years
Countries visited
42 Countries
Get to know me
What is the most amazing experience you have created for a client?
I crafted a magical Lapland journey uniting three generations: grandparents, parents and grandchildren complete with reindeer sleighs, Northern Lights, and Santa's Village. I also organised a Kimberley coastal cruise for clients to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary, including a private dining experience under a blanket of stars.
How do you go above and beyond for your clients?
To me, the whole experience of travelling should be stress-free and that should be from the moment my clients sit at my desk. It should be pure excitement and anticipation for finally getting to experience the picture I have painted in their mind. That is my goal for every client I work with.
What are your favourite destinations to visit and why?
For a city destination, New York and Tokyo would be my top 2! For nature, the Kimberley coastal sailing between Broome and Darwin would have to be up there with one of the most incredible destinations on the planet. There is a spiritual beauty about the isolation of the Kimberley.
Why do you love travel? Tell us what it means to you?
To me, travel is a level of freedom only achieved by being taken out of your comfort zone and experiencing different cultures, eating different food, learning new traditions and seeing a different way of life.
Lauren's Speciality Destinations
A World of Experience
Lauren's client testimonial
"Our trip to Japan was beyond anything we imagined. Every detail was flawlessly curated. From the incredible Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka hotels, seamless trains through to unforgettable food experiences and hidden local gems we never would’ve found on our own. Lauren anticipated our needs before we even knew them and turned a complex destination into a smooth, magical journey. We wouldn’t travel to Japan any other way.”
• Alisha Clay and Buddy Rogers - Japan Trip
Send Lauren a message
OUR OFFICE
Travel Associates Runaway Bay
Set amongst the beautiful canals of Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast, we are a friendly team of six, specialising in your boutique luxury travel needs. Each of our advisors at Travel Associates Runaway Bay has several years of experience crafting carefully curated itineraries that put our clients in touch with those yet-to-be-savoured hidden gems around the world.
Meet the team
