Peter Diethelm of Kuoni. In my previous life as a hotelier, Peter contracted with me and I could never understand how he screwed me down to such a low rate. I have followed his methods assiduously.
n If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?
Managing a good hotel resort somewhere warm.
n What single thing have you achieved at work which has given you the most satisfaction?
Building a team of motivated people. Over 50% of the management of Lawson International started with the company as juniors.
n What percentage of holiday bookings do you estimate will be taken direct by the year 2000?
The professional travel agent can never be replaced. Direct bookings will only increase as a result of discounting by the big boys or a concentrated effort by niche-market operators to go direct.
n Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?
Our Web site is: www.lawsoninternational.comWe have many hits and enquiries and get a lot of business by fax and mail with the booking form printed off the Web site than we expected. Until stories about credit-card fraud diminish, we will not take transactions over the Web.
Industry talk
n What was your first job in travel and how much did you get paid?
Trainee manager at Grand Metropolitan Hotels – £6.10 shillings (£6.50 a week).
n What white lies did you tell on your first job application?
Iwas fit and healthy.A small lie as Iam a haemophiliac.
n What has been your most enbarrassing moment in the travel industry?
Explaining to Cliff Michelmore of the Holiday programme that the person who had just discussed the Mombasa Beach Hotel was the resident’s mother (ie mine). It had to be refilmed.
n Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?
Peter Diethelm of Kuoni. In my previous life as a hotelier, Peter contracted with me and I could never understand how he screwed me down to such a low rate. I have followed his methods assiduously.
n If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?
Managing a good hotel resort somewhere warm.
n What single thing have you achieved at work which has given you the most satisfaction?
Building a team of motivated people. Over 50% of the management of Lawson International started with the company as juniors.
n What percentage of holiday bookings do you estimate will be taken direct by the year 2000?
The professional travel agent can never be replaced. Direct bookings will only increase as a result of discounting by the big boys or a concentrated effort by niche-market operators to go direct.
n Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?
Our Web site is: www.lawsoninternational.comWe have many hits and enquiries and get a lot of business by fax and mail with the booking form printed off the Web site than we expected. Until stories about credit-card fraud diminish, we will not take transactions over the Web.
Personal talk
n What is your star sign?
Aries.
n Which living person do you most respect?
Margaret Thatcher, between 1977-1989. In those 12 years she saw what needed to be done and did it, but then lost the one-nation society concept.
n What is your greatest extravagance?
Travel and entertaining.
n If you could be anyone for a day who would it be and why?
The minister for education. To reintroduce competitive sport into the national curriculum. Maybe then England will win something.
n What is your greatest vice?
Smoking. On the basis that vices are morally bad but thoroughly enjoyable.
n What is the most memorable destination you’ve visited and why?
Jordan – taking a horseback ride to the rose-red city of Petra, but as a traveller I can honestly say Ihave never visited anywhere in the world where I have not received at least one good experience by actually going there.
n What’s the corniest chat-up line you’ve ever used?
“Where do you go on holiday?” Normally said to flight attendants.
n What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?
Anywhere where the sunbeds are in rows on concrete.
n How do you relax?
Watching sport.
n What would you have put on your gravestone?
He found life interesting.
Nicholas Lawson
Job title: managing director.
Age: 56.
Born: Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
Lives: HanworthPark, Middlesex/Devizes, Wiltshire.
Status: Widower. Three sons, Andrew, Oliver and Matthew. Current status, attached – Gloria.
Education: Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire. Westminster Hotel School – Hotel Management.
Path to career: 1961-1969 – hotelier training. From 1969-1972, Nicholas was manager at Mombasa BeachHotel, Kenya and operations manager at four kenyan hotels. From 1972-1974 was manager at Salamis Bay Hotel, Cyprus. Founded LawsonInternational in 1974 selling holidays exclusively to people who work in the travel industry.