Holiday envy is the hardest part of the job – particularly when you live on the windswept northeast coast. Ben Ireland reports.
My daily duties involve…
Every day is different, but agents are at the heart of everything Gold Medal and Travel 2 do. So I could be on store visits one day, at a holiday show the next, attending travel events in the evening or even hosting a fam trip in some amazing destinations.
I’ve been in my job for…
I joined Gold Medal and Travel 2 a couple of months ago, but have worked in the travel industry for years. I was previously with Attraction World, where I spent three years as the business development manager for northeast England and Scotland.
I became a key account manager because…
I love the variety of the role. One of the best things about the travel industry is the people – and in this role I get the opportunity to meet so many people from different areas of the industry, which is great.
The most rewarding part of my job is…
The personal relationships you build up over the years. I must say, though, that it’s always lovely to make calls to agents to tell them they’ve won an incentive prize or that they’re going on one of our amazing fam trips. There aren’t too many jobs in which you get to surprise people with a trip to the Maldives, Dubai or Bali.
The most challenging part of my job is…
Doing my best to not get holiday envy. Every time I deliver any training or speak to agents about our portfolio, I just want to drop everything and go on holiday, especially when it’s a grey and rainy day up north. I’ve been with Gold Medal and Travel 2 for only a short time, but I can see the portfolio is enormous – there are so many destinations, properties, tours and cruises. I’m learning something new every day, which is a good challenge to have.
My favourite destination is…
Thailand, for sure. The beaches, friendly people, delicious food and variety of activities on offer are just some of the many reasons I love the destination. One of my favourite experiences when I recently visited was snorkelling at night with glowing plankton. The water was dark, but once you moved your hands and feet to swim, the plankton lit up. It was eerie and an amazingly beautiful sight.
The most common thing I am asked is…
“How can I get to go on a Gold Medal and Travel 2 fam trip?”
The worst thing that’s happened at work is…
Thankfully, nothing terrible springs to mind, but breaking down on the motorway in the snow isn’t an experience I’d like to repeat.
To relax, I like to…
Go for a walk by the sea, although I usually have to be well wrapped up, as live on the northeast coast.
What one thing would take to a desert island…
A boat!