Cheryl Sutherland
Where were you born? In Toronto.
What was your 1st job? Harvey’s – before high school. It was a lot of fun!
How long have you been in the business? Since 1995.
Tell me about your 1st airplane ride. I was 4, visiting family in Saint Vincent.
How has the business changed since you got into it? 9/11 hit the travel industry hard and then the tour operators cut commissions. On the other hand, Canadians are becoming much more adventurous about where they travel.
Do you have a specialty? The Caribbean and cruising.
If you could have any job in the business what would it be? Product buyer.
What was your best FAM? A great Sunwing FAM to Las Vegas run by Lorraine Brisbois, and also a do-it-yourself cruise on Azamara to Portugal and France.
What drives you crazy? People who call and say they want to go “south” (laughs). You mean, Windsor? Drives me batty.
What was your biggest individual sale? A family to Curacao at the Santa Barbara - $17,670.
What’s the 1st thing you do when you get into a hotel room? I check everything, the doors, windows, bathroom, bedding – that comes from working at a hotel (the Royal York).
Do you have a magic sentence to close the sale? “Are you ready to book?” Seems to work!
Do you have any time management strategies? I treat everything as a priority, just at different levels. That’s what my customers expect.
What do you do to keep your clients loyal? Being on top of everything and answering the most mundane question they have. It’s not mundane to them.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? “Live every day like it’s your last.”
If you had to spend 6 months in a destination, which one would you pick? A tie between Greece and Egypt. I love ancient history.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? Going back to my 1st love which is law.
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.
