Radio presenter Myleene Klass entertained guests with anecdotes from her career at the Association of Women Travel Executives’ (AWTE) latest event.
‘An Audience with Myleene Klass’ was the first in a series of talks with high profile guests, organised by AWTE in collaboration with Global Media and Entertainment.
Mum-of-two Klass talked about the change in her career from classical music to pop, modelling, setting up her own business – a range of children’s clothing sold internationally called Baby K – and her passion for travel.
She also answered questions from the audience about her life, career and aspirations.
She said having her family and being a single mum drives her in her business and that she chooses her teams and the people she works with carefully.
“The only advice worth taking in business must come from those actually doing it,” she said.
Speaking to Travel Weekly before she took to the stage, Klass said she uses an agent when she can to book her holidays.
“I have got a few friendly ones who I deal with,” she said. “I like to really tailor-make what I want because I’m very particular about that.
“It’s nice on the whole to organise trips yourself, but that process is not without its pitfalls. I once booked a villa myself and the girls tried to make perfume. They pulled up all the woman’s orchids.
“She stung me on the deposit and it all started getting a bit hairy. I didn’t break the washing machine like she said – I don’t use the washing machine on holiday. With those kind of things I’m a bit more wary of booking myself now.
“On the whole I will go through a travel agent and say, ‘look, I want to be able to snorkel, is there shade? Are there enough things for the girls to see?’”
Klass also said she does not necessarily expect elaborate holidays.
“It can be very simple, as long as my family are all together. I prefer to go to a villa rather than a hotel so we can run around naked. Getting back to nature.”
Nicola Bradley, head of travel – client category development at Global Media and Entertainment, said: “We are truly delighted to collaborate with the AWTE and our amazing pool of talent is excited to get involved.
“The events arranged until the end of the year will give the travel industry the opportunity to hear from successful women who have had a varied career path.”
The partnership between AWTE and Global was announced in June with a competition to have breakfast with Emma Bunton.
The winner, Rachel Temperton from Alliance Global Assistance, was announced at Monday’s event, at the May Fair Hotel in London.
AWTE’s next event with Global will be on the September 7, when Kate Garraway will present the Chair’s Awards.