Attraction World national sales manager Alison Jarvis tells Travel Weekly how she built a career in the travel industry
What was your first job in travel?
Junior sales consultant, Midlands Co-op Travel, Hereford.
How did you climb the career ladder?
I think it was a case of enjoying what I was doing and taking the opportunities that came my way.
What does it take to be good at your job?
Perseverance, a sense of humour, motivation and a strong liver.
What challenges are there in your job?
Helping agents to be creative in competing with companies that sell direct to consumers and ensuring they sell attractions from our range and not just when customers are travelling to Florida. We have attractions in 25 countries, so the earning potential is massive.
What is the best part of your job?
The people. The industry is fun to be in and there are some real characters who always make you smile.
And the worst?
The fact that I have been selling ancillary products for most of my career and there are still some agents that don’t maximise each opportunity and upsell.
What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received?
Do what makes you happy.
If you weren’t working in travel what would you be doing?
I’d like to be a writer.
Travel cv: Alison Jarvis
2006 to present: National sales manager, Attraction World2003: Development manager, National Express
1999: Sales executive, Holiday Autos
1994: Junior sales consultant, Midlands Co-op Travel