What was your 1st job? I’m from Hungary and after university, I worked as a supervisor in a cannery there.
How long have you been in the business? 25 years. How did I get started? That’s a funny story: I have a degree in food science and had a job here in Toronto I really hated so I was thinking of retraining myself. I signed up for an accounting course and by accident received the textbooks for a travel course! I went along to an agency to ask about working as a travel agent and they hired me then and there!
How has the business changed since you got into it? Oh my goodness - we wrote tickets by hand! And I think since the Internet, it has changed again. Since so many people feel they are “travel agents,” we have to rely on our experience and ability.
Do you have a specialty? Luxury travel – we are members of Virtuoso which is a tremendous help.
If you could have any job in the business what would it be? I really am happy where I am. Honestly.
What was your best FAM? That’s a difficult one. I have two favourites, one to Peru and one to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
What drives you crazy? (laughs) That people don’t use common sense. For example, we are required to tell people that, “The standard of living is different outside Canada,” when we should be required to tell them, “You have to follow the laws of the country you are travelling to!”
What was your biggest individual sale? I recently booked a private jet trip around the world. $67,000 per person.
What’s the 1st thing you do when you get into a hotel room? Check out the bathroom.
Do you have any time management strategies? I find the biggest hindrance is checking emails too often. I try to keep it to once an hour.
How do you cope with jetlag? I cope very well! I love travelling so I don’t care. I wish I was always jetlagged!
What do you do to keep you clients loyal? I pay attention to who they are and try to build a relationship and trust from the very beginning. They know they can come to me with anything and I will be honest.
If you or someone you know, who is a front line travel agent in Canada and would like to be featured in Up Front, please email martha@gk.openjaw.xyz.
