Pictured left to right: Travel specialist Ellie Thomas with Royal Caribbean International sales development manager Paris Stanley
A Miles Morgan Travel agent who only started selling holidays earlier this year has bagged a booking for almost £80,000.
Travel specialist Ellie Thomas is one of the 19-strong agency’s Rising Stars – new recruits taken on by the company this year who have not previously worked as travel agents.
She joined the group’s Chepstow branch in May and her booking was the highest-value sale made by any of the group’s 20 Rising Stars.
The £79,800 booking, which took over a month to complete, is for July next year.
Thomas, who previously worked in the leisure department of Monmouthshire County Council and is also a trained lifeguard, said: “Selling is completely alien to me but the staff have been really helpful. With the amount of training provided, it has made the job a lot easier.
“I was nervous about such a big career change but I have been given a lot of support by Miles [Morgan] and Mandy [Shillito] and no question is too stupid!”
Thomas took the big booking for a family of 12 to Walt Disney World Resort Florida for five nights followed by a seven-night Royal Caribbean International cruise, and a three-night trip to Universal Studios.
It involved putting in a special request for guaranteed flight seats together and involved around 20 different quotes before being confirmed.
“The customer had always booked her holidays herself but after Covid she wanted to use a travel agent so I knew if I put a foot wrong she’d do it herself and I was very aware of that,” said Thomas.
She added: “She gave me a loose idea of what she wanted but was very particular about cabin types and locations. It was very satisfying to get the booking right and I learnt a lot in the process.”
Royal Caribbean International sales development manager Paris Stanley said: “We were amazingly pleased with the booking. It’s one of our top bookings this autumn.”