Vegas and see him fight Mike Tyson. It was excruciatingly embarrassing for reasons that cannot be printed. I’m blushing just thinking about it.
n Which company, apart from your own, do you most admire and why?
EasyJet and the VirginGroup. Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Richard Branson’s entrepreneurial flair, individuality and creativity comes through in their products and services. I get the clear indication that work and play are the same thing to them.
n If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?
Find the time to actually finish the novel that I’ve started writing.
n What advice would you give to someone starting out in the travel industry?
Be persistent and don’t necessarily take ‘no’ as the final answer.
n Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?
Our Web site gives information on products and services and allows people to contact us with enquiries but does not currently have an on-line booking facility. The address is www.raileurope.co.uk
n Do you think the growing consolidation in the industry is good for consumers?
It depends on how the major players handle the smaller niche operators in their stable. If they leave the niche operators to develop their markets, consolidation will be good. If they put too many constraints on the smaller operators then consolidation could be bad.
n Do you agree with travel agents charging a fee for their work?
Absolutely, they provide an important and highly specialised service and should be rewarded accordingly.
Industry talk
n What was your first job in travel and how much did you get paid?
Marketing manager at Airtours Holidays on £17,000 a year.
n What, apart from your current position, would be your ideal job in travel?
If money were an issue I would love to set up a division looking seriously at e-commerce for travel – I don’t think it’s been done yet. If money were not an issue, I would be a buyer for airline amenity kits and spend all day testing various products.
n What has been your most embarrassing moment in the travel industry?
I had a meeting with Frank Bruno about a special package for British fans to fly to Las Vegas and see him fight Mike Tyson. It was excruciatingly embarrassing for reasons that cannot be printed. I’m blushing just thinking about it.
n Which company, apart from your own, do you most admire and why?
EasyJet and the VirginGroup. Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Richard Branson’s entrepreneurial flair, individuality and creativity comes through in their products and services. I get the clear indication that work and play are the same thing to them.
n If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?
Find the time to actually finish the novel that I’ve started writing.
n What advice would you give to someone starting out in the travel industry?
Be persistent and don’t necessarily take ‘no’ as the final answer.
n Do you have a Web site and if so how many bookings do you receive on it?
Our Web site gives information on products and services and allows people to contact us with enquiries but does not currently have an on-line booking facility. The address is www.raileurope.co.uk
n Do you think the growing consolidation in the industry is good for consumers?
It depends on how the major players handle the smaller niche operators in their stable. If they leave the niche operators to develop their markets, consolidation will be good. If they put too many constraints on the smaller operators then consolidation could be bad.
n Do you agree with travel agents charging a fee for their work?
Absolutely, they provide an important and highly specialised service and should be rewarded accordingly.
Personal talk
n What is your star sign?
Libra.
n What would you change about yourself?
Don’t get me started.
n What is your greatest regret?
Not being able to cook an omelette.
n What is your greatest extravagance?
Lipsticks – I own more than a hundred!
n If you could be anyone for a day who would it be and why?
The lipstick buyer at Harvey Nichols.
n What are your hobbies?
Writing, wine, restaurants, music, sailing and travel.
n What is the most memorable destination you’ve visited and why?
Egypt always blows me apart because it is so beautiful and always so interesting. Friends tell me my talks on Ancient Egyptian history and architecture should be available on the National Health as a cure for insomnia.
n What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?
Any holiday where children are visible or audible.
n How do you relax?
Either get a massage or spend time with friends and several bottles of wine.
n What would you have put on your gravestone?
She was right. Her cooking was awful.
Karen Gee
Job title: sales and marketing director.
Age: 36.
Born: Blackburn.
Lives: Twickenham.
Status: single.
Education: Shrewsbury High School, ThamesPolytechnic.
Path to career: Karen started off as Airtours Holidays marketing manager in 1991 before moving on to British Sky Broadcasting, as general manager for Sky Travel Service in 1994. Karen then took up thedevelopment director’s role at Flying Colours Holidays in 1996 where she stayed until 1998 when she left to take up a post at a travel consultancy. She started in her current position at Rail Europe in 1998.