Christine Jeynes
Where were you born? In London, England.
What was your 1st job? My father was a milkman and I used to go out and help him.
How long have you been in the business? About 12 years – my background is actually bookkeeping.
Tell me about your 1st airplane ride. When I was a teenager, I went to France on an exchange program through school. It was a car ferry plane, a few passengers and a lot of cars.
Do you have a specialty? I call myself a Bucket List Specialist. If people want things off the rack they can go online. If they want a dream vacation, they come to me. My clients have me plan family “roots” trips, mountain climbing holidays, you name it!
If you could have any job in the business what would it be? Hosting cruises. And I’m going to do it!
What was your best FAM? Conquest to Cartagena, Colombia. Robbie Goldberg, owner of Conquest, was given the keys to the city and they had a parade. No one on that FAM would ever forget it.
What drives you crazy? (Laughs) Suppliers – how they think they don’t need us.
What was your biggest individual sale? Australia and New Zealand, a 3 month tour. About $25,000 for the couple.
What’s the 1st thing you do when you get into a hotel room? I check for cleanliness.
Do you have a magic sentence to close the sale? I usually ask the client, “What do you think?” Make them talk!
How do you cope with jetlag? I use No Jet Lag pills. And when I come back I just give into it – when I’m tired I go to bed and I seem to be OK.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
If you had to spend 6 months in a destination, which one would you pick? I like Barbados. It suits me. The British way without being snotty.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? Living on a cruise ship – but not working on it!
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.
