Margaret Prefontaine
Where were you born? Right near here in St. Boniface, Manitoba. I’ve lived here all my life.
What was your 1st job? Teaching grades 10, 11 and 12.
How long have you been in the business? Since 1997.
Tell me about your 1st airplane ride. I was in my 40s, believe it or not! To Disney, in Florida. I’d been too afraid to fly before that.
How has the business changed since you got into it? There’s a lot more clients booking their trips – flights and now packages – online.
Do you have a specialty? Disney - I’ve been 25 or 30 times, mostly to Florida.
If you could have any job in the business what would it be? Working at Disney as a greeter!
What was your best FAM? My 1st Disney trip to Orlando.
What drives you crazy? (laughs out loud) Dealing with clients who are impossible to please.
What was your biggest individual sale? I just booked a single lady to Africa – over $10,000.
Do you have a magic sentence to close the sale? “Shall we apply a deposit?”
How do you cope with jetlag? I use No Jet Lag pills. They’re great, just wonderful.
What do you do to keep you clients loyal? I make sure my clients know I really care about them and treat them as I would want to be treated. I’ll even come in on my day off!
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? “When you’re upset, take a deep breath. Then another deep breath.”
If you had to spend 6 months in a destination, which one would you pick? Florida.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? That’s a tough question because people ask why I’m not retired yet. Probably volunteer work, but I love what I do.
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.
