Jo Streeter, IT Project Manager, ABC Holiday Extras
Education: eight O’ levels, four A’ levels. NEBSM Introductory Award in Supervisory Management NEBSM/NVQ Certificate Programme.
First travel job: with ABCHoliday Extras (then Apple Booking Company) as a data entry clerk in the reservations department, typing details of invoices onto a very old-fashioned computer and taking telephone reservations.
Career path: after a brief stint working in PR, I started work with ABCHoliday Extras as a data entry clerk, and later progressed to data entry supervisor. After two years, I changed direction to project co-ordinator, and worked with the team that in conjunction with Chauntry Corporation developed and introduced a tailor-made computerised reservations system to replace the old manual system. It was an exciting time as we were designing a new system from scratch, and there were times when it seemed we’d never get there, but after an amazingly hectic nine months we made it. Developments continued and when a ViewData service was introduced, I moved to the IT department to run a help desk for internal customers and travel agents. Over the past three years, my responsibilities have grown and currently I manage the day-to-day running of the IT department while leading projects – namely Y2K(anti-millennium bug) and business continuity.
Advice for people wishing to develop a career in travel: “Get involved with the Web – in any way, shape or form! With the way Internet technologies are being developed and adopted within the travel industry, a working knowledge is becoming more essential for future prospects, for example www.holidayextras.co.uk.”