Holly Newing
Head of the Travel Team
Holly actually started her travel career in a marketing role but it didn’t take her long to swap staring at dreamy destinations from a desk for getting out there and experiencing them firsthand: sights, sounds, smells, and all.
Armed with a one-way ticket to Bangkok (and little else!), she set off on an incredible adventure around Southeast Asia. She dived into Thai culture (and more green curries than she’d care to admit), then made her way to wonderfully laid-back Laos. From there, she explored Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Borneo, where she climbed the towering Mount Kinabalu.
She also lived the Aussie lifestyle for a while, threw herself out of planes in New Zealand, and recharged on the beaches of Indonesia before joining us at Experience Travel Group in 2016. She began by supporting the Travel Team, gaining a solid understanding of how we care for our clients, before stepping into a full travel specialist role – and now, she leads the team.
Holly specialises in crafting holidays to Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Borneo, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Nepal and the Maldives.
Holly has spent time testing out and developing our immersive experiences in Vietnam and Cambodia, and she also loved exploring Myanmar back in 2017, too. Visiting the villages along the Irrawaddy River and watching buffalo (and children!) wander down for a swim at the end of the day was a particularly special moment.
Since then, she’s ventured through Sri Lanka, soaking up the diverse landscapes, fantastic food and ETG illuminating experiences, and journeyed deep into Borneo’s jungles with our expert nature guides. In 2020, Holly had an adventure (to say the least!) in Rajasthan, where she joined the locals in celebrating the Indian ‘Holi’ festival.
More recently, Holly’s returned to Sri Lanka, assessing the island’s latest and greatest experiences (ask her about walking the Pekoe Trail). She also scoped out Nepal, where she let her adventurous side out on awe-inspiring treks, and stayed at one of the most spectacular – and sumptuous – hotels in all of Asia (ask her to be let in on the secret).
“The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time.” – Bill Bryson
Holly’s Destinations
Array
(
[title] => Sri Lanka
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 43400
[id] => 43400
[title] => ETG - Sri Lanka - TP Toddy Tapper (5)
[filename] => ETG-Sri-Lanka-TP-Toddy-Tapper-5.jpg
[filesize] => 2042489
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ETG-Sri-Lanka-TP-Toddy-Tapper-5.jpg
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/itinerary/a-foodie-journey-through-sri-lanka/attachment/etg-sri-lanka-tp-toddy-tapper-5
[alt] =>
[author] => 41
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => etg-sri-lanka-tp-toddy-tapper-5
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 43375
[date] => 2025-07-07 11:54:10
[modified] => 2025-07-07 11:54:10
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/jpeg
[type] => image
[subtype] => jpeg
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 1434
[height] => 2150
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ETG-Sri-Lanka-TP-Toddy-Tapper-5-150x150.jpg
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ETG-Sri-Lanka-TP-Toddy-Tapper-5-200x300.jpg
[medium-width] => 200
[medium-height] => 300
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ETG-Sri-Lanka-TP-Toddy-Tapper-5-768x1151.jpg
[medium_large-width] => 768
[medium_large-height] => 1151
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ETG-Sri-Lanka-TP-Toddy-Tapper-5-683x1024.jpg
[large-width] => 683
[large-height] => 1024
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ETG-Sri-Lanka-TP-Toddy-Tapper-5-1024x1536.jpg
[1536x1536-width] => 1024
[1536x1536-height] => 1536
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ETG-Sri-Lanka-TP-Toddy-Tapper-5-1366x2048.jpg
[2048x2048-width] => 1366
[2048x2048-height] => 2048
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => /destinations/sri-lanka
[url] => /destinations/sri-lanka
[name] => /destinations/sri-lanka
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Array
(
[title] => Nepal
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 48603
[id] => 48603
[title] => Prayer Flags Nepal
[filename] => SU_KTM-04-scaled-e1753703906354.jpg
[filesize] => 458813
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SU_KTM-04-scaled-e1753703906354.jpg
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/itinerary/classic-nepal-with-a-twist/attachment/su_ktm-04
[alt] => Prayer Flags Nepal
[author] => 41
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => su_ktm-04
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 48554
[date] => 2025-07-28 11:57:31
[modified] => 2025-07-28 11:57:47
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/jpeg
[type] => image
[subtype] => jpeg
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 1382
[height] => 2560
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SU_KTM-04-scaled-e1753703906354-150x150.jpg
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SU_KTM-04-scaled-e1753703906354-162x300.jpg
[medium-width] => 162
[medium-height] => 300
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SU_KTM-04-scaled-e1753703906354-768x1423.jpg
[medium_large-width] => 768
[medium_large-height] => 1423
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SU_KTM-04-scaled-e1753703906354-553x1024.jpg
[large-width] => 553
[large-height] => 1024
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SU_KTM-04-scaled-e1753703906354-829x1536.jpg
[1536x1536-width] => 829
[1536x1536-height] => 1536
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SU_KTM-04-scaled-e1753703906354-1106x2048.jpg
[2048x2048-width] => 1106
[2048x2048-height] => 2048
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => /destinations/nepal
[url] => /destinations/nepal
[name] => /destinations/nepal
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Array
(
[title] => Vietnam
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 48204
[id] => 48204
[title] => Vietnam flower lady bicycle mobile
[filename] => 17-0074CR-_MG_0216-v1.0.jpg
[filesize] => 2361989
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/17-0074CR-_MG_0216-v1.0.jpg
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/vietnam/family/attachment/17-0074cr-_mg_0216-v1-0
[alt] =>
[author] => 31
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => 17-0074cr-_mg_0216-v1-0
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 48171
[date] => 2025-07-24 15:52:54
[modified] => 2025-07-24 16:01:00
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/jpeg
[type] => image
[subtype] => jpeg
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 1434
[height] => 2150
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/17-0074CR-_MG_0216-v1.0-150x150.jpg
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/17-0074CR-_MG_0216-v1.0-200x300.jpg
[medium-width] => 200
[medium-height] => 300
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/17-0074CR-_MG_0216-v1.0-768x1151.jpg
[medium_large-width] => 768
[medium_large-height] => 1151
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/17-0074CR-_MG_0216-v1.0-683x1024.jpg
[large-width] => 683
[large-height] => 1024
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/17-0074CR-_MG_0216-v1.0-1024x1536.jpg
[1536x1536-width] => 1024
[1536x1536-height] => 1536
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/17-0074CR-_MG_0216-v1.0-1366x2048.jpg
[2048x2048-width] => 1366
[2048x2048-height] => 2048
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => /destinations/vietnam
[url] => /destinations/vietnam
[name] => /destinations/vietnam
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Array
(
[title] => Cambodia
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 49171
[id] => 49171
[title] => royal sands cambodia
[filename] => royal-sands-cambodia.jpg
[filesize] => 39142
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/royal-sands-cambodia.jpg
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/cambodia/accommodation/royal-sands-koh-rong/attachment/royal-sands-cambodia
[alt] =>
[author] => 32
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => royal-sands-cambodia
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 42768
[date] => 2025-07-29 15:00:20
[modified] => 2025-07-29 15:00:22
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/jpeg
[type] => image
[subtype] => jpeg
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 602
[height] => 338
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/royal-sands-cambodia-150x150.jpg
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/royal-sands-cambodia-300x168.jpg
[medium-width] => 300
[medium-height] => 168
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/royal-sands-cambodia.jpg
[medium_large-width] => 602
[medium_large-height] => 338
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/royal-sands-cambodia.jpg
[large-width] => 602
[large-height] => 338
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/royal-sands-cambodia.jpg
[1536x1536-width] => 602
[1536x1536-height] => 338
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/royal-sands-cambodia.jpg
[2048x2048-width] => 602
[2048x2048-height] => 338
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => /destinations/cambodia
[url] => /destinations/cambodia
[name] => /destinations/cambodia
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Array
(
[title] => Thailand
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 48513
[id] => 48513
[title] => thailand-weather
[filename] => thailand-weather.jpg
[filesize] => 161026
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/thailand-weather.jpg
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/thailand/attachment/thailand-weather
[alt] =>
[author] => 13
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => thailand-weather
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 42094
[date] => 2025-07-28 10:10:09
[modified] => 2025-07-28 10:10:09
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/jpeg
[type] => image
[subtype] => jpeg
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 680
[height] => 1020
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/thailand-weather-150x150.jpg
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/thailand-weather-200x300.jpg
[medium-width] => 200
[medium-height] => 300
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/thailand-weather.jpg
[medium_large-width] => 680
[medium_large-height] => 1020
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/thailand-weather.jpg
[large-width] => 680
[large-height] => 1020
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/thailand-weather.jpg
[1536x1536-width] => 680
[1536x1536-height] => 1020
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/thailand-weather.jpg
[2048x2048-width] => 680
[2048x2048-height] => 1020
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => /destinations/thailand
[url] => /destinations/thailand
[name] => /destinations/thailand
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Array
(
[title] => Borneo
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 46624
[id] => 46624
[title] => Borneo Orang Utan Feeeding Time 2
[filename] => Borneo-Orang-Utan-Feeeding-Time-2.jpg
[filesize] => 613335
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Borneo-Orang-Utan-Feeeding-Time-2.jpg
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/itinerary/borneo-java-bali/attachment/borneo-orang-utan-feeeding-time-2
[alt] =>
[author] => 32
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => borneo-orang-utan-feeeding-time-2
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 46615
[date] => 2025-07-18 11:29:57
[modified] => 2025-07-21 14:24:13
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/jpeg
[type] => image
[subtype] => jpeg
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 2000
[height] => 1335
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Borneo-Orang-Utan-Feeeding-Time-2-150x150.jpg
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Borneo-Orang-Utan-Feeeding-Time-2-300x200.jpg
[medium-width] => 300
[medium-height] => 200
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Borneo-Orang-Utan-Feeeding-Time-2-768x513.jpg
[medium_large-width] => 768
[medium_large-height] => 513
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Borneo-Orang-Utan-Feeeding-Time-2-1024x684.jpg
[large-width] => 1024
[large-height] => 684
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Borneo-Orang-Utan-Feeeding-Time-2-1536x1025.jpg
[1536x1536-width] => 1536
[1536x1536-height] => 1025
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Borneo-Orang-Utan-Feeeding-Time-2.jpg
[2048x2048-width] => 2000
[2048x2048-height] => 1335
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => /destinations/borneo
[url] => /destinations/borneo
[name] => /destinations/borneo
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Array
(
[title] => Laos
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 51598
[id] => 51598
[title] => Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366
[filename] => Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366-1.jpg
[filesize] => 227685
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366-1.jpg
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/blog/what-is-a-tailor-made-holiday/attachment/laos-nam-ou-river-2048x1366
[alt] =>
[author] => 12
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => laos-nam-ou-river-2048x1366
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 51594
[date] => 2025-08-11 20:19:07
[modified] => 2025-08-11 20:19:07
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/jpeg
[type] => image
[subtype] => jpeg
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 2048
[height] => 1366
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366-1-150x150.jpg
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366-1-300x200.jpg
[medium-width] => 300
[medium-height] => 200
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366-1-768x512.jpg
[medium_large-width] => 768
[medium_large-height] => 512
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366-1-1024x683.jpg
[large-width] => 1024
[large-height] => 683
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366-1-1536x1025.jpg
[1536x1536-width] => 1536
[1536x1536-height] => 1025
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Laos-Nam-Ou-River-2048x1366-1.jpg
[2048x2048-width] => 2048
[2048x2048-height] => 1366
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/laos
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/laos
[name] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/laos
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Array
(
[title] => The Maldives
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 50839
[id] => 50839
[title] => Maldives
[filename] => Maldives.gif
[filesize] => 413323
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Maldives.gif
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/blog/how-expensive-is-the-maldives/attachment/maldives-3
[alt] =>
[author] => 12
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => maldives-3
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 50838
[date] => 2025-08-09 12:52:16
[modified] => 2025-08-09 12:52:16
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/gif
[type] => image
[subtype] => gif
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 1800
[height] => 1000
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Maldives-150x150.gif
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Maldives-300x167.gif
[medium-width] => 300
[medium-height] => 167
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Maldives-768x427.gif
[medium_large-width] => 768
[medium_large-height] => 427
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Maldives-1024x569.gif
[large-width] => 1024
[large-height] => 569
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Maldives-1536x853.gif
[1536x1536-width] => 1536
[1536x1536-height] => 853
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Maldives.gif
[2048x2048-width] => 1800
[2048x2048-height] => 1000
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/the-maldives
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/the-maldives
[name] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/destinations/the-maldives
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Array
(
[title] => Multi-Destination
[image] => Array
(
[ID] => 41196
[id] => 41196
[title] => multi
[filename] => multi.jpg
[filesize] => 231651
[url] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/multi.jpg
[link] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/home-2/multi
[alt] =>
[author] => 13
[description] =>
[caption] =>
[name] => multi
[status] => inherit
[uploaded_to] => 2
[date] => 2025-06-10 10:40:02
[modified] => 2025-06-10 10:40:02
[menu_order] => 0
[mime_type] => image/jpeg
[type] => image
[subtype] => jpeg
[icon] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-includes/images/media/default.png
[width] => 1000
[height] => 667
[sizes] => Array
(
[thumbnail] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/multi-150x150.jpg
[thumbnail-width] => 150
[thumbnail-height] => 150
[medium] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/multi-300x200.jpg
[medium-width] => 300
[medium-height] => 200
[medium_large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/multi-768x512.jpg
[medium_large-width] => 768
[medium_large-height] => 512
[large] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/multi.jpg
[large-width] => 1000
[large-height] => 667
[1536x1536] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/multi.jpg
[1536x1536-width] => 1000
[1536x1536-height] => 667
[2048x2048] => https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/multi.jpg
[2048x2048-width] => 1000
[2048x2048-height] => 667
)
)
[url] => Array
(
[type] => url
[value] => /destinations/multi-destination
[url] => /destinations/multi-destination
[name] => /destinations/multi-destination
[title] =>
[target] =>
)
)
Feedback from Holly’s Travellers