Where were you born? In Edmonton.
How long have you been in the business? 27 years.
What was your first job? I was an OCAP (Ontario Career Assistance Program) student at Joyce Akitt Travel in Burlington.
How has the business changed since you got into it? Drastically! I remember when I was a co-op student I spent 3 weeks handwriting tickets because that’s what they drilled into you. You had to be very neat and tidy. Also part of my job was to call and call the tour operators – on a rotary phone! - until you got through, then pass the phone to the agent.
Do you have a specialty? I do a lot of FITs to Europe, as well as weddings.
If you could have any job in the business what would it be? A product buyer and go south and contract hotels. I think that would be a great job!
What was your best FAM? With an ethnic agency, we flew to Yugoslavia when it was still Yugoslavia – something that you wouldn’t normally do. Very cool.
What drives you crazy? People getting my expert advice and then booking on the internet. That drives me crazy.
What was your biggest individual sale? Probably $45,000 for a family trip. The grandfather is a farmer and they all went to Jamaica last February. And he’s going to do it again. A man who had never taken a vacation in his life.
Do you have any time management strategies? I wish! I’d like to take a course.
How do you cope with jetlag? I drink lots of water, I don’t drink any alcohol inflight, and when I arrive I stay up, I don’t have a nap.
What do you do to keep you clients loyal? We always give them a follow up card or email. And ask them to join us on Facebook because unlike your friends and family we do love to see your vacation photos!!
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? “Don’t sweat the small stuff – everything is fixable.”
If you had to spend six months in a destination, which one would you pick?
Six months? Bermuda. I’d rent a small cottage.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? Teaching art. But that’s another story!
