people profile

people profile

open to question: Emma Wylie, Universal Mediterranea

Job title: sales training executive.

Age: 27.

Born: Glasgow.

Lives: London.

Status: single.

Education: Williamwood High School and Central College of Commerce, Glasgow.

Path to career: 1990-1998, sales consultant, Portman Travel, seven years in retail and one year in business travel; 1998-2001 Thomson Holidays, two years as a holiday rep and one year as team manager; winter 2000-2001, trainer, Thomson call centre, Glasgow; April 2001, sales training executive, Universal Mediterranea.

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

I worked for an independent agency and was paid £27.50 a week.

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

A TV presenter on a holiday programme.

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

There’s been a couple but you couldn’t print them. I was a holiday rep in Ibiza remember!

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

Andrew Willis, team manager for Thomson Holidays. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be where I am today. A true inspiration and an amazing manager.

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

Holiday rep in Ibiza. Need I say any more?

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

Coca-Cola. No matter where in the world you go, everyone knows it.

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

An astrologer, if Ihad the brains.

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

I am currently working on the creation and design of a distance-learning package for agents and a travel agents’ loyalty club.

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

Work hard and play hard – it’s a very exiting and fun industry to be in so enjoy it.

&#42 What do you always carry with you to work?

Heat magazine.

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

It depends if I’m based in the office or if I’m out on the road. It varies.

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

Trips to the moon for £99.

&#42 What is your star sign?

Capricorn.

&#42 What would you change about yourself?

My ability to spend all of my wages in about two days.

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

Spending time with my friends and family with a good meal and then a West End show.

&#42 What is your greatest regret?

Not learning more languages.

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

Geri Halliwell. Purely for the washboard stomach and the chance to give Robbie Williams a big hug!

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

Brian from Big Brother 2 and we’d go clubbing in Ibiza.

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

A cowboy ranch in Montana. Log cabins, rodeos, real cowboys and the chance to sample their local delicacy – bull’s testicles! How could I forget that!

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

Anything that would bring me into contact with spiders or great heights.

&#42 How do you relax?

Sitting in the sunshine or a hot bath with a bottle of wine.

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

At last! The chance to rest in peace…