Wolf Paunic
Where were you born? In Belgrade in what is now Serbia. I’ve been in Canada since 1993.
How long have you been in the business? Since 1987 – I started as destination rep for Yugotours U.K. I’ve been with Trafalgar for 2½ years now.
How many people work at Trafalgar? Globally, over 300. In Canada, about 50.
What’s the best part of the job? Having leadership with a vision that is changing the paradigm, continuously innovating and transforming the guided vacation category.
What did you want to be as a kid? A car designer.
What was your 1st job? Picking pears in a plantation near Belgrade. I lasted a week!
Any guilty pleasures? A good cigar once or twice a year.
What’s your favourite airline? Air Canada – I find as a national carrier, they are absolutely great. I fly a lot for business and they are shoulders above the other carriers.
Do you have a favourite travel app? Urbanspoon – restaurant reviews by food critics and consumers alike, complete with prices etc. Great for when I’m travelling on my own.
What’s on your iPod? A very eclectic mix – classical, folk, and the group Elbow from Manchester. But I’m still a big Crosby Stills Nash and Young fan.
What do people not know about you? That I have a Masters in Arabic and Turkish Language and Literature and Comparative History of Civilization.
Any hobbies or interests? Reading, running and my biggest passion: downhill skiing.
When were you happiest? When my kids were born. I was filled with some sort of divine sensation. My daughter, Natalia, is now 18 and Adam is 14.
What skill or talent do you admire in someone? Eloquence.
What’s your favourite place for a business lunch? The Longest Yard on Mount Pleasant here in Toronto.
Ever had a brush with fame? Yes – it was fantastic. At a private club in the Bahamas, I went at 6 a.m. for a swim and a familiar voice behind me said, “Good morning.” It was Sean Connery. I spent some time with him and his wife - a true gentleman.
What is your greatest extravagance? A pair of $800 shoes.
If you could sit next to anyone on a long-haul flight, who would it be? Richard Branson.
Do you have a favourite charity? Breast cancer. Speaking personally, I’ve always admired Open Jaw’s WinterBoob event.
What will be the biggest challenge for the industry in the next 12 months? Over capacity in several segments which will erode revenue, continuing to concentrate on price rather than experience. You cannot measure experience by how low is the price.
What do you hope to be doing in 10 years? I hope still in the industry and enjoying the demographic convergence with the guided vacation concept. The more people travel, the more they realize how efficient and environmentally friendly it is.
