Gerry Koolhof
Where were you born? In Newmarket, ON.
What was your 1st job? In a market outside of Lindsay.
How long have you been in the business? I started with Wardair in 1981 as flight attendant.
Do you have a specialty? I focus on luxury cruises.
If you could have any job in the business what would it be? Oh wow. If I was younger, maybe as a Cruise Director on Seabourn or Regent Cruises.
What was your best FAM? On a Regent cruise from Athens to Istanbul, including Israel.
What drives you crazy? Changes… I had to rebook a group on a 25-day cruise out of NY thanks to Hurricane Sandy.
What was your biggest individual sale? $224,000 for a couple on a Regent Voyager World Cruise. They are older, retired, gay men who each take their own suites, 1 port, 1 starboard (laughs), because 1 snores! The longest cruise they did was 138 days. Great clients!
What’s the 1st thing you do when you get into a hotel room? I check the view.
Do you have a magic sentence to close the sale? “Let’s do it!”
Do you have any time management strategies? For sure! I have my To Do List in Outlook.
How do you cope with jetlag? I try to live as the locals do and force myself to switch time zones.
What do you do to keep your clients loyal? We’re part of Virtuoso and I’ve developed so many great contacts - I can get lots of extra treats. For example, the GM will invite my clients for a drink. Personal contacts are invaluable!
If you had to spend 6 months in a destination, which 1 would you pick? Tahiti, because it’s so peaceful. The people are as not negatively influenced in the world.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? Some type of charity work, probably with animals.
If you or someone you know is a front line travel agent in Canada and would like to be featured in Up Front, please email martha@gk.openjaw.xyz.
