n What’s the best job you’ve had, apart from your current one?
Working in sales at USAirtours was good fun and Imade some good friends there.
n What advice would you give to someone starting out in the travel industry?
Listen to people right through the industry and make the most of travel opportunities.
n What percentage of holiday bookings do you estimate will be taken direct by the year 2000?
It’s difficult to place a percentage. I think more channels will open for the customer to book their holiday in addition to the direct channels.
n When will digital TVstart to have a big impact on bookings?
I believe technology including digital TVwill impact on booking patterns for a significant sector of the market within five years.
n Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?
Our Web site is mainly a brochure ordering service, bookings received by this service are negligible. The site address is www.panoramaholidays.co.uk.
n How many travel agents do you estimate there will be left in five years time?
Providing travel agents embrace new technology to the full, I believe they will have a secure future in the both the growing travel and leisure industries.
Industry talk
n What was your first job in travel and how much did you get paid?
I worked at American Express Business Travel in Manchester. I was the office ‘gofer’ earning £27.50 per week.
n What, apart from your current job, would be your ideal job in travel?
My ideal job would be to run my own Web-based travel firm specialising in the slightly more obscure destinations.
n Who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?
My wife Andrea, who is a good antidote to my serious side. My mortgage has and continues to be fairly influential too!
n What’s the best job you’ve had, apart from your current one?
Working in sales at USAirtours was good fun and Imade some good friends there.
n What advice would you give to someone starting out in the travel industry?
Listen to people right through the industry and make the most of travel opportunities.
n What percentage of holiday bookings do you estimate will be taken direct by the year 2000?
It’s difficult to place a percentage. I think more channels will open for the customer to book their holiday in addition to the direct channels.
n When will digital TVstart to have a big impact on bookings?
I believe technology including digital TVwill impact on booking patterns for a significant sector of the market within five years.
n Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?
Our Web site is mainly a brochure ordering service, bookings received by this service are negligible. The site address is www.panoramaholidays.co.uk.
n How many travel agents do you estimate there will be left in five years time?
Providing travel agents embrace new technology to the full, I believe they will have a secure future in the both the growing travel and leisure industries.
Personal talk
n What is your star sign?
Pisces.
n What would you change about yourself?
Become more disciplined with my exercise.
n Which living person do you most respect?
Professor Stephen Hawking for his courageous thinking and zest for life.
n What is your greatest regret?
My greatest regret is not having travelled the world before settling into a career. Something I intend to put right in retirement.
n If you could be anyone for a day who would it be and why?
Iwould quite like to be David Crossland for a day, just to experience what it would be like at the top.
n Who, apart from your partner, would be your ideal holiday companion and where would you go?
Nicole Kidman, we would gatecrash that party in Eyes Wide Shut.
n What is the most memorable destination you’ve visited and why?
The Grand Canyon, for its immensity.
n What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?
I try to avoid hugely expensive holidays.
n How do you relax?
Going for walks in and around the village where Ilive.
n What would you have put on your gravestone?
Being in sales, I would naturally sell the space on my gravestone to the highest paying advertiser. Perhaps, ‘Don’t delay, book today.’
Andrew Royle
Job title: head of sales.
Age: 29.
Born: Salford.
Lives: Chipperfield, Herts.
Status: married.
Education: Sale Grammar School, Greater Manchester and Fellden College, Manchester.
Path to career: started at Carlton Travel as a retail travel consultant in 1987. Joined Cresta World Travel in 1989 as a long-haul travel consultant. In 1990 joined USAirtours as sales team leader. Joined Rank Holidays Division in 1996 as sales manager. Took up current position at Panorama Holidays in 1999.