Industry talk
n What was your first job in travel and how much did you get paid?
Junior sales consultant for Lunn Poly in York, earning £4,000 a year.
n What, apart from your current position, would be your ideal job in travel?
I would relish the opportunity of owning and running a hotel, taking it to a world famous status, providing customer service which is second to none.
n What’s the best job you’ve had apart from your current one?
Regional sales manager for Lunn Poly. I thrived on building a strong team, and seeing the direct influence of that, by achieving a successful region.
n Which company, apart from your own, do you most admire and why?
Disney, for the organisation’s sheer customer focus and professionalism. It always goes that extra mile.
n If you weren’t in travel, what would you be doing?
Interior design for the rich and famous, where money is no object.
n What one thing would you change about your job?
Travelling to and from work takes up an awful lot of time. I’d prefer to be using the time more productively, out in the division.
n What percentage of holiday bookings do you estimate will be taken direct by the year 2000?
I think it will be a small proportion.The high-street travel agent will still be the major force in the industry, with some increase in Internet sales. Customers appreciate face-to-face contact and are unsure about spending large amounts of money over the Internet.
n Do you have a Web site and if so what kind of bookings do you receive on it?
Yes, we have a late-search facility. The address is www.lunnpoly.co.uk
Personal talk
n What is your star sign?
Cancer.
n What would you change about yourself?
Like most women, I’d like to be taller and thinner, but realistically I would love to be fluent in foreign languages.
n What is your greatest regret?
I wish I had taken a year out to go travelling before settling into my career.
n If you could be anyone for a day who would it be and why?
A breakfast TV presenter. I could go to work at the same time as I do now, but be finished by 10am.
n Who, apart from your partner, would be your ideal holiday companion?
The girls. We would go on a city break to shop, eat, drink and have fun.
n What are your hobbies?
My new house has taken up a large proportion of my spare time. I’ve really enjoyed decorating the interior.
n What is the most memorable destination you’ve visited and why?
My most memorable holiday was to Rome and Tuscany. It was a beautiful contrast between a hectic city break and a relaxing week in a villa. It proved a great opportunity to sample Italian food, wine and culture.
n What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?
Anything involving sporting activities. I’m not sporty at all.
n What is your favourite TV programme/film/book?
My favourite TV programme is Friends, the film is Evita and the book is Bridget Jones’ Diary.
n What would you have put on your gravestone?
So much to do, but no time left to do it!
Kathryn Ward
Job title: sales director.
Age: 30.
Born: Leeds.
Lives: York.
Status: single.
Education: Howden Secondary School followed by York College.
Path to career: started as junior sales consultant at Lunn Poly in York in 1986. In 1988, promoted to the role of assistant shop manager. Between 1989 and 1993 held the positions of shop manager at Lunn Poly in York and Selby. Promoted to regional salesmanager for Central Yorkshire and then WestMidlands and Shropshire region. In 1999 waspromoted to the position of sales director – northdivision.