What was your first job? Coupon counter at Shoppers Drugmart. Very depressing!
How long have you been in the travel business? Almost 13 years.
How has the business changed since you got into it? Dramatically – clients are definitely more informed about where they want to go. Also the way we work with the internet and email.
Do you have a specialty? South Pacific, specifically Australia.
If you could have any job in the business what would it be? I like my job – it lets me dream about many destinations in a day.
What was your best FAM? Kangaroo Island in Australia: the wildlife interaction was incredible and cuisine outstanding.
What drives you crazy? Shoppers – those people who want to pick your brain and then buy somewhere else. I’ve started charging planning fees for long haul travel.
What was your biggest individual sale? $36,000. An FIT through the UK, France and Austria. Parents travelling with their son as a graduation gift.
Do you have any time management strategies? I start first thing in the morning, putting out all the files that need to get done on my desk, and putting them in order, and going through my emails and hope everything gets done!
How do you cope with jetlag? I make sure I keep to the local time zone.
What do you do to keep you clients loyal? I make sure to touch base with them and keep it on a personal level, remembering their birthdays and special requests – such as dietary needs. Clients tell me they really appreciate that.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” It’s so true!
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? I’d be a computer programmer – that was my initial training.
If you had to spend six months in a destination, which one would you pick? Australia, because it’s so diverse, so much to see. I’ve been there 5 times and feel there’s still so much to explore!
If you’d like to be featured in Up Front, please email martha@gk.openjaw.xyz.
