Meet Travis Dowling, Park Manager at Lake St Clair

Travis has been working with Belgravia Leisure for almost two years and says, “I started as a relief Park Manager, and after six months, I transitioned into the Park Manager role.

“Over the past two years, I’ve really enjoyed my role as Park Manager at the picturesque Lake St Clair. The highlights for me are always when our guests reach out after their stay to tell us that they have had a fantastic time and can’t wait to come back.”

Travis appears in Belgravia Pro’s Lakefront Retreat video below. The video takes you on a road trip to the scenic Hunter Valley. Lake St Clair is nestled among the undulating hills at the foot of Mount Royal Range, about 30 minutes north of Singleton. The lake is perfect for swimming, sailing, water skiing, and fishing.

Learn more and enter Belgravia Pro’s competition, giving you a chance to win 1 of 5 road trips visiting some of the most beautiful regions NSW has to offer, see here.

How have you, your team and/or venue been impacted by COVID & what have you learnt?

“COVID impacted the camping industry a bit differently, especially in regional NSW. Whilst we had lockdown periods and different restrictions to navigate we were only closed for a minimal amount of time compared to other venues. We benefited from the trend in people discovering “their own back yard” and experienced high demand during any times in which restrictions would allow.

“During COVID, many people tried camping for the first time, and we quickly identified opportunities for return visits, word of mouth recommendations and user-generated content by ensuring that they had a positive first time experience. We also learned that you can’t always control and plan for every situation. Being agile and resilient became more important than other skills that we had previously relied on as a team.”

What is your favourite thing about your career?

“The people that I meet along the way. We have such a diverse range of guests that visit, and I’m always learning something new or hearing great life stories. Very few other jobs enable you to meet and interact with so many unique individuals.”

Where do you see yourself in the next 3-5 years?

“The family and I plan to relocate to Queensland, so hopefully, continuing on with Belgravia Leisure in a similar role in the sunshine state.”

What are 3 things you’re most passionate about in life and why?

1. Family – My wife and kids are the most important part of my life.
2. Fishing – It’s my downtime, it requires more know how than a lot of people think and my dad took a lot of time out to teach me as a kid. I really enjoy sharing that knowledge with my own kids and other people.
3. Our country – We’re so lucky to live in an amazing part of the world that has so much to offer. I love experiencing it myself and helping others to enjoy the outdoors and all of the benefits that come with it (relaxation, family time, memories).

What does sustainability mean to you?

“Sustainability to me means seeking mutually beneficial outcomes for the business, community and environment and understanding the needs of each.”

• Learn more about the picturesque Lake St Clair here.
• Progress your career with Belgravia Leisure here.
• Learn more about Our People here.