Mike Booker, national sales manager, Wallace Arnold
Age: 45.
Education: A sizeable clutch of GCEs but the most relevant education has been on-the-job experience, a host of travel trade courses and journeying to more than 50 countries worldwide.
First Travel Job: May 1969 as a trainee travel clerk with Davis World Travel, Fareham. Travel was my second choice – I actually wanted to join the police!
Career path: Having secured a “first class grounding” in the trade with Davis World Travel, Mike progressed to a larger agency, becoming assistant manager at Portsmouth’s Renwick Travel in 1975. On his second day, the manager had a kidney transplant and Mike took over the branch for the next 10 months! He enjoyed a succession of management positions and promotions with independent agent Grace Travel in the South East and Althams Travel in the North West. The call of the road then saw him become a sales representative for Pakistan International Airlines in 1978 and Speedbird Holidays in 1981, before joining Hayes and Jarvis as business development manager in 1986. He returned to his native north last year to become national sales manager at Wallace Arnold. He currently oversees a seven-strong sales and agency support team with his responsibilities including key account management, sales promotions, corporate hospitality and hosting educationals.
Advice for people wishing to develop a career in travel: “Listen, look and learn from others. A good basic training is vital – don’t expect to run before you can walk on the career path.