JOB FOCUS:

JOB FOCUS:

Simon Parsons, general sales manager, Sterling Travel Insurance

Education and training: six O’ Levels, two A’ Levels.

Career path: Simon was on the professional books with Cardiff City Football Club which meant an end to any further education. But he commenced his travel industry career at Gills Travel in Cardiff, which provided him with a great grounding in travel as it had excellent training. After a short period at Thomson Holidays reservations in 1995 Simon joined Sunjet Holidays as reservations manager. Sunjet was a typical ’80s medium-sized tour operator specialising in Spain and the Balearics. He left to join SOL Holidays in 1989 as the operator’s first and last sales executive for the Southwest. In the six months he was at SOL (before ILG took over) the management gave Simon excellent instruction in the business. Following SOL he joined Hamilton Barr Insurance Brokers as one of six regional sales managers – he stayed for eight years. In February1998 he moved to Sterling Travel Insurance Services as key account manager – an excellent career move. Earlier this year he was made general sales manager. Sterling is a fast expanding company but very customer-service conscious. Simon said that one key thing he has learned in the sales environment is to look after customers at all costs.

Advice for people wishing to develop a career in travel: “Empathise, stay flexible and subjective. Strive to make yourself indispensable. Enjoy it. There’s no better reason for working in travel!”