The Oasis Travel agent tells Samantha Mayling what earning the accolade meant to her
Q. How did you get into travel?
My work experience teacher couldn’t get me into real estate but she did arrange a week at a travel agency when I was 15. I caught the travel bug and made my first booking there – for me, Mum and Dad to Portugal; it was exciting. After a travel and tourism college course, my first job was at Thriftway Travel, Belfast. It was great, I did everything from business travel to consolidation.
Then I moved to Henry Gowan Travel,and was assistant manager, until my first child was born in 1999. My husband is in travel too. He worked in business travel for Corporate Travel. When a senior partner retired, we became partners, along with another senior partner. It was predominantly business travel, a small bit of leisure and a lot of consolidation. We were the first Virgin Atlantic consolidator for Northern Ireland, I believe.
Q. How did you start with Oasis?
Sandra Corkin, Oasis founder and managing director, opened a Belfast city centre store. I’d turned 40 and wanted to return to retail. I started in the Howard Street branch working three days a week.
I went up to four days and became front office manager, then back to five days a week when I became manager. We won many awards – Howard Street was very successful. After Covid, Sandra shuffled the branch managers, so I moved to the Holywood office. We used to be managers; after Covid we were called ambassadors.
Q. How did Oasis cope with the pandemic?
Communication was key – remaining in contact and assuring clients regarding changes and refunds. Oasis Travel had more than 100 virtual events with suppliers online. I was in contact with Sandra every day and updated staff. On Friday afternoons the whole company came on Zoom for updates and a fun event such as making cocktails or cooking a dish.
Q. Did keeping in touch during Covid pay dividends?
My goodness, 110%. 2023 was a record year and the shop figures are good [for 2024] – we are above target. Luckily, we haven’t seen a dip [due to] the cost of living.
Q. What do you sell?
Cruise accounts for 40%-45% of our business. We’re highly trained and have seen lots of the ships we sell, from Marella to Silversea. We also sell Jet2holidays and family holidays. We’re part of Aito, as clients are looking for more immersive and adventurous experiences. It’s important to have confidence in our suppliers, for when things go right and when things go wrong.
Q. Have you made any memorable bookings?
I had the privilege of booking for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, taking very sick children and families to Disneyland Paris. That was for more than 100 people. It was not just about the value of the booking but getting the right medical care and creating memories. We create our own exclusive cruise tours, for groups of 27-30. We arrange the coach to Dublin, fly with them and get them boarded on the cruise.
Q. What fam trips have you done?
I’ve been to Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Mauritius, Mexico and a Tuscany tour to see Andrea Bocelli. In 2024, I took a Danube river cruise and I’ve just got back from Ikos Andalusia in Estepona, Malaga.
Q. What marketing do you do?
We’re proactive on social media; we make videos when we’re away, then create an offer when we return. We do radio and billboard advertising, but the biggest is our annual Oasis cruise fair in a luxury hotel. We’re always helping in the community and support local charities.
I took part in Pedal the Periphery last June, a 480-mile cycle relay around Northern Ireland in 48 hours to support Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer. Oasis staff raised £13,500 in memory of Sandra’s brother, Gary Corkin, the agency’s former finance director, who died of the illness.
Tell us why you won Leisure Manager of the Year at the Agent Achievement Awards
When I started at Holywood, nobody knew me, so I got out in the community. I go to the local hairdresser and changed my nail technician. I buy meat, vegetables, everything locally. One day, I heard the local butcher calling out to me in the street and thought,’I’ve made it!’. Sales are very important but I also love pastoral care.
I am an Oasis wellness champion. At silly o’clock in the morning, I take staff for a lovely walk on the beach. Blowing the cobwebs away is good for mental health. We’ve won many awards locally but to take a girl from Northern Ireland to a top-end London hotel and win on that [AAAs] stage, I was so proud. I wouldn’t be there without support from Sandra and the team.
It was a phenomenal evening and I was on cloud nine. It’s a lovely memory and accolade. I love my job but I keep busy outside work – I have two grown-up children and a grandson, Jacob. After Pedal the Periphery, I wanted a new bike for Christmas to keep riding. I am involved with the church and Girls’ Brigade – and I run a mums-and-toddlers group on Wednesday mornings when I am off work.