open to question: Gabrielle Alam, Accor Leisure and Resorts

open to question: Gabrielle Alam, Accor Leisure and Resorts

Job title: sales director UK.

Age: a forever young 41.

Born: Stuttgart, Germany.

Lives: London.

Status: married

Education: MA in Marketing, Chartered Institute of Marketing; Certificate in Business Administration,Pitman’s Business School.

Path to career: 1980-1992 overseas representative for various ground handlers in Asia and Middle East; 1992 reservations sales agent, Lauda Air; 1993-1995 sales manager, Globepost Travel;1995-1998 sales and marketing manager Europe,Communication in Business working on the Bermuda Tourism account; 1988 international sales manager, Accor, promoted in January to sales director UK.

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

Overseas representative for TUI Group in 1980 in Thailand at $120 per week.

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

Applying my destination knowledge in the product development department of a hotel group or tour operator.

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

Sharon Bernstein, who managed the Ontario Tourist Board account for CIB because she sets an example of energy, moral value and determination.

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

European sales and marketing manager for Bermuda Tourism.

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

Four Seasons Hotels. I admire their philosophy and their art of converting it into reality.

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

Property development or horse breeding.

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

Open-plan offices.

&#42 When will digital television start to have a big impact on bookings?

It depends on the type of booking. I think for short-haul flights it is likely to be quite soon as more households are using digital. For more costly holidays, it will be in two or three years time, when established brand tour operators start to broadcast on digital television.

&#42 Do you think the growing consolidation in the industry is good for consumers?

On one hand, it gives better prices through increased purchasing power, on the other hand it restricts choice for the consumer.

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

As a result of modern technology and as the world is getting smaller, the traveller is becoming better informed, thus more confident. I could also see a continued growth in tailor-made holidays and travel.

&#42 What is your star sign?

Cancer.

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

Robin Williams. He’s a great actor and thinker who’s not afraid to express himself in controversial movies.

&#42 What is your greatest regret?

Chocolate.

&#42 What is your greatest extravagance?

Claret vintages.

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

Harrison Ford – Bora Bora shark feeding.

&#42 What are your hobbies?

Salsa dancing and cooking.

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

Mauritius, it’s perfect mixture of dream destination and sophistication with a serious absence of mass-market tourism.

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

A last-minute package holiday to Spain.

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

Good company, good wine, good food, good music in that order.

&#42 How do you relax?

I switch the phone off and have a glass of good red wine.

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

Je ne regrette rien.