people profile

people profile

people profile

people profile

open to question: Jane Karwoski, all-hotels.com

profile

Job title: chief executive officer.

Age: 42.

Born: St Louis, Missouri, US.

Lives: Scotland.

Status: single.

Education: Southwest DeKalb High School, Wake Forest University, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Path to career:.1980-1982 USsenate-legislative assistant to Senator Sam Nunn in Washington DC; 1982-1984 business development manager of Advanced Technology Development Centre, Atlanta, Georgia; 1984-1988 small business consulting manager for Arthur Andersen in Atlanta. 1988 joined Noble and Company, Edinburgh as director. Rejoined Arthur Andersen as corporate finance director in 1994. Left to join Perfico Ltd as MD in 1996. From 1997-1998 was founder and MDof Seraphim Investors Ltd. From 1998-2000 was group finance director at Axis Shield. Took up current position of CEO for all-hotels.com in 2000.

industry talk

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

This one. I was formerly group finance director of Axis-Shield Plc.

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

Grasping just how big a worldwide industry it is and how it is so important to many countries total economies.

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

The night I put my room service tray in the hall outside my hotel room and locked myself out. I was in my pyjamas!

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

A travel writer so Icould explore all over the world and write about various places to visit and people to meet.

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

All of them – I’ve never had a bad job.

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

Working at a high-tech company trying to grow something from a start-up to a big company.

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

Learn all you can and have a great time.

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

The Web sites are www.all-hotels.com or www.all-hotels.org We’re on target to receive $15 million in on-line bookings this year. Over 75,000 room nights have been booked through our site this year.

&#42 How many travel agents do you estimate there will be left in the UK in five years’ time?

About 75% as many as there are today so long as they adapt to the changing and growing travel distribution channels.

&#42 Do you agree with travel agents charging a fee for their work?

Yes, if they provide a real and personalised service and the consumer knows there is a service charge involved.

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

It’ll still be the world’s number one industry. There will also be greater opportunity for a greater number of people to enjoy travelling.

personal talk

&#42 What is your star sign?

Cancer.

&#42 What would you change about yourself?

I’d lighten up a bit more.

&#42 Which living person do you most respect and why?

Ted Turner for his vision. He understood the global power of CNN before most other people did.

&#42 What is your greatest extravagance?

Collecting contemporary Scottish art and having monthly facials.

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

One of my best friends. She and I have travelled a great deal together and had many terrific experiences. I am not sure where we would go, probably somewhere in Asia.

&#42 What are your hobbies?

Sport (mostly spectator these days), travelling, collecting Scottish art, socialising with friends and family and hot-air ballooning – I am currently taking lessons to get my license.

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

Recently, Egypt. The age and condition of the antiquities and sites were amazing.

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

Good food and good wine with good friends.

&#42 How do you relax?

By smiling.

&#42 What would you have put on yourgravestone?

She made a difference.