The peaks seem like yesterday but plans for our Christmas party and 2024 are already under way, says Hays Travel Gateshead branch manager Colin Burns
“Hello October, what are you doing here? We haven’t had summer yet!”
Just where has 2023 gone? It seems like yesterday we were celebrating a record-breaking January peaks and now here we are planning our Christmas parties.
The past few months have been eventful and our industry has had to battle through tragedies like wildfires and natural disasters as well as the air traffic control disruption, all the while looking after our customers and making sure we’re still here to fight another day.
Our industry has had to battle through tragedies like wildfires and natural disasters as well as the air traffic control disruption
Of course, the extra work, stress and tears such events cause is nothing compared to the hardship, pain and suffering still being endured by those whose entire lives have been affected by these events, so we must continue to support these countries on their road to recovery as much as we can.
Winter training
Now, as winter approaches, we look for opportunities to prepare for another year. Training is being rolled out by suppliers, so we can all brush up on our knowledge and skills, and Hays Travel’s own learning and development team are making sure we can all improve.
Like many other sectors, travel still has lots of job vacancies and not enough people to fill them. With unemployment in the UK at its lowest level since 1974, getting bums on seats continues to be a challenge in some areas. Hays Travel has had great success in recent years by employing people from cabin crew who need work during the winter break for our foreign exchange bureaus, and we’re continuing it this year.
Hays Travel has had great success in recent years by employing people from cabin crew who need work during the winter break for our foreign exchange bureaus
When it comes to more permanent solutions, retaining staff is key and I have a pretty good track record. Being open and honest at interview stage is vital as I want every candidate to know exactly what the job entails and what I and Hays Travel will expect from them, especially around targets. This way, there are no shocks once someone starts working with you.
Then I try to make sure that I offer all the support needed to help that person succeed in their role, looking for any development and training opportunities. And of course, I love to have fun at work; most of us spend more time with colleagues than we do with our families, so we make the shop a happy place to be.
Party planning
That brings me back nicely to the excitement of arranging our Christmas party, which had the team buzzing last week!
Ideas were thrown around, discussions had and we decided on a “bottomless brunch”. This wasn’t my choice, to be honest, because, at the risk of sounding like an old man, I’m not really into prosecco and fancy cocktails. Thankfully, however, Megan managed to find one that offers unlimited beer too. Happy days!
I wonder if I still have those mauve crimplene trousers, yellow frilled shirt and green velvet jacket? Sounds ideal for a “brunch” meeting to me
Apparently the dress code is “smart casual” – does anyone actually know what that means? I’ll have to go up into my loft to fetch the winter clothes boxes. I wonder if I still have those mauve crimplene trousers, yellow frilled shirt and green velvet jacket? Sounds ideal for a “brunch” meeting to me, bottomless or other!
Geography lessons
I thought I was going to have to get my atlas out the other day. While serving a customer some Polish zloty, it became clear she was quite miffed at how much her trip was going to end up costing her. “This holiday is costing me a fortune, you know” she grumbled, adding: “I’ve had to pay for the holiday and then the family wanted day trips booking too and I’ve had to get a minibus transfer.
It’s all adding up.” I replied: “Oh, it will all be worth it, though,” trying to be positive on her behalf. “I hope so,” she said, “because if I add it all up, I bet I could have gone abroad for what I’ve spent!” Now correct me if I’m wrong, but I always thought Poland was ‘abroad’.