people profile

people profile

open to question: Louise Bryan, Parker Barnard

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Job title: managing director.

Age: 31.

Born: Birmingham.

Lives: Birmingham.

Status: married.

Education: Bournville secondary school, Birmingham.

Path to career: left school and joined Falcon Holidays as junior reservations clerk. Promoted to agency sales after a year and then to sales executive. In 1991 joined the directors of Falcon Holidays at Beach Villas as national sales manager. From here sherelocated to Cambridge and ran the reservations department. Left Beach Villas in April 1995 to join Hamilton Barr Insurance Brokers as sales executive for the Midlands. In 1998 she was promoted to sales manager. Joined Parker Barnard (Special Risks) in April this year as managing director.

industry talk

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

At Falcon Holidays’ Birmingham office (now First Choice). I was 17 and earned £8,000 per annum.

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

Proving to many people that I would be successful in the insurance world.

&#42 What, apart from your current position, would be your ideal job in travel?

Making travel documentaries or videos. Not like Wish You Were Here, they would have to be educational.

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

Getting to where I am today.

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

Holiday Autos. They are living evidence that if you work hard you can achieve your goals.

&#42 If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?

I think Iwould have joined the police force.

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

Work hard, play hard and have fun. More importantly, see the world before you decide on your career path.

&#42 What’s the best job you’ve had, apart from your current one?

Falcon Holidays sales representative. We had a great team in Birmingham, many of whom are still in the travel industry and still successful.

&#42 What hours do you work, on average, each week?

My day usually starts at 5.30am with a wake-up call. I’m usually on the road for about 6.30-7am and get home at around 8pm.

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

The paper work.

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

It’s hard to predict anything. The industry changes so quickly. I think the trade will still be a roller-coaster ride and not for the faint-hearted.

personal talk

&#42 What is your star sign?

Sagittarius.

&#42 What would you change about yourself?

Sometimes I’m too sensitive.

&#42 What is your greatest regret?

That Ididn’t see the world before I followed my career path.

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

A contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and the one that wins the top prize.

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

Robbie Williams, he could tell me I’m an angel, we’d rock the DJ. Who cares about the destination as long as he keeps up his naughty bad-boy image.

&#42 What are your hobbies?

Swimming, Itry to swim at least twice a week. Sunday mornings are a ritual in our house. By 8.30am I’m in the pool, hangover or no hangover.

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

Backpacking and camping.

&#42 What is your favourite TV programme /film/book?

I don’t watch much TV, maybe a few soaps. The film is Notting Hill and the book is anything by Danielle Steel.

&#42 How do you relax?

A glass of wine and a nice hot bath.

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

I had some perfect moments.