Working in travel
Getting to see the world can be an upside of this industry.
Here, a handful of professionals share the destinations they’ve been lucky enough to visit
“I was really lucky to be sent on a Norwegian fjords cruise with Disney Cruise Line as part of my role at Iglu Cruise. This was such a fantastic opportunity and the chance to experience things like this is my favourite part of the job. That’s because it really helps me enhance my customers’ holidays through the knowledge and expertise I’ve gained from trips like these. I have such a passion for cruises and have so much fun booking fantastic cruise holidays for my clients – some who have cruised many times and others who have never tried it before!”
Charlie Blaydon, cruise travel expert, Iglu Cruise, cruise agency
“I studied travel and tourism at Birmingham Metropolitan College and now work as a member of cabin crew for Ryanair. I get to meet so many different people, work with amazing colleagues and travel to interesting cities, sometimes visiting multiple places in a single day. It’s a fast-paced environment and it’s a real buzz. It’s also incredibly rewarding to help people, especially when we can turn a stressful travel day into a positive experience. Here I am exploring the Polish city of Krakow during a stopover in between my cabin crew responsibilities.”
Aleksandra Broniecka, cabin crew, Ryanair
“As business development director, I look after agency sales and help deal with enquiries that come to us. I love what I do because this role means I get to work with some of the best agents in the travel industry and I get to explore some fantastic places around the world. Here I am (far right) in Galle, Sri Lanka, leading agents on a fam trip.”
Oli Dobbs, business development director, Travel Gallery, tour operator
“One of our clients runs an annual sales incentive competition to reward the top-performing European region with a once-in-a lifetime experience. Each year, we’re tasked with selecting the destination to further drive sales performance. Here I am during a three-day Norwegian adventure between Bergen, Flåm and Voss, with experiences such as helicopter transfers, a glacier hike, fjord safari and Viking feast. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of seeing the joy and excitement of incentive guests as they make unforgettable memories!”
Heather Frei, event operations director, Seven, event management company
“Having worked in the industry for more than 30 years in various roles, I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively. As product manager for Australasia, North America and the Caribbean, I am lucky enough to visit some of the most beautiful places and hotels in the world, such as Silky Oaks Lodge, which is in the Daintree Rainforest (pictured), Queensland. It helps me find the best of the best, so I can create inspiring travel itineraries and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for our clients.”
David Pointer, product manager, ITC Travel Group, luxury tour operator
Photo credit: Shutterstock/aanbetta