| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 12/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 16 |
| Copyright: Other |
people profile
open to question: David Watrous, Greek Islands Club and British Virgin Islands Club
profileJob title: managing director
Path to career: from 1971-1974 was account controller at JWalter Thompson.
In 1974 joined the family business – Greek Islands Club/British Virgin Islands Club.
industry talk
n What was your first job in travel and how much did you get paid?
In 1974 Ijoined the family business of Greek Islands Club to look after our small villa programme on the island of Paxos. I was paid £3,500 a year.
n What has been your biggest challenge in the travel industry?
To keep all the balls in the air at the same time.
n Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?
My father. He demonstrated how a small company with a specialised programme can achieve what a large company cannot.
n What’s the best job you’ve had, apart from your current one?
Selling paintings on the waterfront of San Francisco in the summer of 1971.
n Which company, apart from your own, do you most admire and why?
Western andOriental. They have refined the tailor-made holiday for the more intrepid traveller.
n What single thing have you achieved at work which has given you the most satisfaction?
Receiving a lot of letters from satisfied clients and having achieved a high percentage of client loyalty.
n If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?
Writing highly successful novels and spending a few weeks each month in each of my worldwide homes.
n What advice would you give to someone starting out in the travel industry?
Gain practical experience rather than theoretical qualification, start off as an overseas rep, see how the punters tick.
n Do you think the growing consolidation in the industry is good for consumers?
I think most sensible people want more transparency in what they buy and consolidation does not always provide that.
n Make one prediction about travel in the 21st century:
Travellers will become more aware of tourism’s impact on the ecology of holidaydestinations. Prices will increase due to taxes levied by host countries to supportecological protection.
personal talk
n What is your star sign?
I’m on the cusp, so a bit of an Aries and a bit of a Pisces.
n What would you change about yourself?
Wear a smile all the time, stop smoking, spend more time with the family and have a good set of teeth.
n Which living person do you most respect and why?
My mother. She has a positive attitude on life but does not over impose it on others.
n What is your greatest regret?
Not having travelled more when Iwas younger.
n If you could be anyone for the day who would you be and why?
Pete Sampras at Wimbledon. I suppose we all want recognition in some form.
n Who, apart from your partner, would be your ideal holiday companion and where would you go?
I would go with my son to Tibet.
n What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?
A Club Hedonism holiday.
n What is your favourite TV programme/ film/book?
My favourite programme is The Fast Show, the film is The Blues Brothers and the book is One Hundred Years of Solitude.
n What’s your idea of a great night out?
Close friends, a rich Rioja, no pretensions, no work the next day and a taxi home.
n What would you have put on your gravestone?
That’s all folks.