Rick Gamber, product manager, Jetsave Touring
Education: seven O’ levels and one A’ level.
Training: on the job training and in-house seminars.
First travel job: in 1992 he joined Crystal Holidays as a resort representative for Crystal Holidays’ winter ski programme in the French Alps. Rick was mad about skiing and jumped at the chance to combine this with work, although at the time he planned to spend only one season with Crystal.
Career path: after the first season on the slopes, he spent the next three years as a Crystal resort representative in France and Switzerland, progressing to the position of senior resort representative. In 1996, Rick worked in the Canadian office, arranging daily transfers for more than 10,000 customers during the season. In 1997 he returned to the UK and was promoted to product manager for Crystal-owned Jetsave America & Canada Escorted Touring.
Advice for people wishing to develop a career in travel: “The right job rarely falls into your lap. Decide on where you want to be in five years, rather than just looking at the immediate future, and then go for it. Accept and learn from criticism – good or bad, it will make you better at your job. Capitalise on your ability to motivate yourself when all around you can’t, and most of all, do the best you can. If you can’t commit yourself 100% then do something about it!”
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