John Cooper, national sales manager/north – Club Travel 2000
Age: 37.
Education: O’ levels – English Literature, English Language, Maths, History, Geography, Technical Drawing and Biology.
First Travel Job: courier for Summer Plan in the summers of 1983 and 1984. John met British holidaymakers who flew into Paris and were transported by coach to Benidorm. The stamina of his youth allowed him to be a representative for them for their fortnight break, travel back with them for 24hrs, and then meet and greet his next party.
Career Path: following his exhausting and exhilarating start at Summer Plan, John moved to International Leisure Group starting as resort rep and progressing to area manager for Costa Brava, then Costa Dorada and finally Florida. A spell at Airtours as area manager in Corfu followed, before he took an opportunity starting as sales executive and working his way up to overseas general manager responsible for 220 reps and 18 resorts. He then headed off to Jersey specialist Airways Holidays in Liverpool where for two years he was general manager. John decided on a brief career break to set up a highly successful sales and promotions operation at Dune FM on Merseyside – where he still presents a popular programme seven nights a week. The travel trade, though, remained in his blood and he was lured back to work for independent Tenerife specialist Club Travel 2000, based in Sale, Cheshire.
Advice for people wishing to develop a career in travel: “Be focused about what you want and always be passionate about whatever you do.”