Chay Blythes The Challenge Business, for its ability to offer people of all ages a chance to realise an ambition and to drive them to physical extremes!
n If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?
I’d probably do something more in the design field like architecture, but that doesn’t often come with travel.
n What percentage of holiday bookings do you estimate will be taken direct by the year 2000?
That’s difficult to say, but Istill believe that if you offer a specialist service, have a user friendly Web site, and offer a service that the customer wants, there will always be the interest from your direct clients.
n Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?
We have both a global and UK Web site which will be up and running by February.
n Do you agree with travel agents charging a fee for their work?
Yes I do. It helps with time wasters! Also if the consumer is looking for a specialist service why shouldn’t they charge for that knowledge?
Industry talk
n What was your first job in travel and how much did you get paid?
My first job was a summer job on the cross-channel ferries, three times a day to Calais, which earned me enough money to backpack around India for six months.
n What has been your biggest challenge in the travel industry?
Probably being made responsible for planning what destinations went into the brochures. I didn’t know about them all but I soon learned and think I’ve always made the right choices!
n Which company, apart from your own, do you most admire and why?
The company Imost admire is Chay Blythes The Challenge Business, for its ability to offer people of all ages a chance to realise an ambition and to drive them to physical extremes!
n If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?
I’d probably do something more in the design field like architecture, but that doesn’t often come with travel.
n What percentage of holiday bookings do you estimate will be taken direct by the year 2000?
That’s difficult to say, but Istill believe that if you offer a specialist service, have a user friendly Web site, and offer a service that the customer wants, there will always be the interest from your direct clients.
n Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?
We have both a global and UK Web site which will be up and running by February.
n Do you agree with travel agents charging a fee for their work?
Yes I do. It helps with time wasters! Also if the consumer is looking for a specialist service why shouldn’t they charge for that knowledge?
Personal talk
n What is your star sign?
Taurus.
n What would you change about yourself?
My tolerance level is probably too high so Iwould lower it. I would also like a bit more hair!
n Which living person do you most respect?
Adrian Zechna, the creator of the Aman resorts. He created a concept of hotels and service that is quite unique.
n If you could be anyone for a day who would it be and why?
David Beckham, not to play football or wear a sarong but to spend his money wisely and tastefully! I also wouldn’t mind the odd conversation with PoshSpice.
n What is your greatest vice?
My greatest vice has to be wine. Unfortunately I like the good stuff and drinking lots of it!
n Who, apart from your partner would be your ideal holiday companion and where would you go?
Apart from my wife, I’d enjoy going on holiday with Dawn French. It wouldn’t matter where we went as I’m sure we’d have a laugh.
n What is the most memorable destination you’ve visited and why?
Isfahan for its fabulous Islamic architecture and absence of tourists. Also Jacks Camp in the Kalahari Desert, again for its remoteness and perfect peace.
n What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?
Package holidays with hordes of people in planes, coaches and aqua aerobics to thumping music in large hotel swimming pools.
n What would you have put on your gravestone?
Here lies a man buried under proofs!
Stuart Douglass-Lee
Job title: head of planning
Age: 42.
Born: Crawley Down, Sussex.
Lives: Leigh on Sea, Essex.
Status: married.
Education: Harvey Grammar School, Kent, School of Oriental andAfrica Studies, London University and Manchester Polytechnic (post-graduate tourism).
Path to career: joined Cox andKings in 1982 as a sales consultant, in 1985 became India manager, in 1987 was a sales consultant again before beingpromoted to planning manager in 1988. Became head of planning in 1998.