open to question: Helen Chester, Cosmos

open to question: Helen Chester, Cosmos

profile

Job title: marketing manager.

Age: 31.

Born: Sudbury, Suffolk.

Lives: Balham,London.

Status: living with partner.

Education: Highworth School for Girls, Ashford and Thames Polytechnic, London.

Path to career: pavilion guide at Expo ’92. Became product executive for Thomson Holidays, 1993. Joined South West Trains as senior product manager, 1995. Marketing manager, Cosmos, 1999 to present .

industry talk

&#42 What was your first job in travel and how much did you get paid?

I was a pavilion guide at the British Pavilion at EXPO ’92 in Seville, Spain. Although it was only £140 per week, it was a great eight months.

&#42 What has been your biggest challenge in the travel industry?

Developing a loyalty scheme for commuters at SouthWest Trains.

&#42 What has been your most embarrassing moment in the travel industry?

Nearly having to go to casualty with concussion after banging my head leaving a wine-tasting evening last Christmas.

&#42 Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?

Peter Cotton, previously commercial director at South West Trains and now managing directorat Gatwick Express, for his ability to make his managers feel important and respected.

&#42 Which company, apart from your own, do you most admire and why?

Pret a Manger. If we could charge the same premium for our holidays as they charge over Marks and Spencerfor a sandwich Icould pack up and go home.

&#42 What single thing have you achieved at work which has given you the most satisfaction?

Seeing the first brochure I worked on come off the printing press when I worked at Thomson Holidays.

&#42 What one thing would you change about your job?

I could do with more hours in the day.

&#42 What advice would you give to someone starting out in the travel industry?

It’s fun but expect to work hard.

&#42 Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?

Our Web site address is www.cosmos-holidays.co.uk

It was launched last year and we aim to have on-line bookings by the end of the year.

&#42 Make one prediction about travel in the 21st century.

There is going to be more price transparency so the tour operator/agent that adds value will succeed in the long term.

personal talk

&#42 What is your star sign?

Capricorn.

&#42 What is your greatest extravagance?

A house I bought with my partner a few months ago.

&#42 What is your greatest vice?

Red wine.

&#42 If you could be anyone for the day who would you be and why?

RodEddington, the new chief executive officerof British Airways, just to see what it is like starting a new job at the top.

&#42 Who, apart from your partner, would be your ideal holiday companion and where would you go?

A group of friends and we’d charter a yacht in the Caribbean.

&#42 What is the most memorable destination you’ve visited and why?

Four months travelling throughout south-east Asia. The food, climate, beaches and people were all fantastic.

&#42 What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?

Camping in this country.

&#42 What’s your idea of a great night out?

An Italian meal with friends and more than enough wine to go around.

&#42 How do you relax?

A long soak in the bath.

&#42 What would you have put on your gravestone?

I would want my family to put something that reminded them of our happy times together.