We’ve come a long way in 10 years: 2004-14
Lowcostbeds speaks to industry colleagues on its 10th anniversary
with Chetan Patel director, A1 Travel
Q. What’s been your best experience working in travel?
A. I have been given the opportunity to meet some brilliant people whom I can call friends. Without this experience, working in the industry would have been boring!
Q. Tell us a funny story from your travel career
A. Well, what can I say? I wish I had something funny to say, like my head being shaved off while asleep, or being tied up to a lamppost on a drunken night or left in a bin overnight as I was too drunk to move… Oops! Did I just mention that!.
Q. What’s your favourite destination? A. I love Africa, so Zambia – my home!
Q. If you weren’t a travel agent what would you be?
A. Astronaut or an F1 driver.
Q. What motivates you? A. Waking up every morning to the sound of my kids.
Q. Who’s been the biggest influence on your career?
A. My parents.
Q. What do you think is going to be the next big trend in travel?
A. Virtual travel experience – being able to feel the holiday before you book it.
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Q. If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
A.The red tape.
Q. If you were marooned on a desert island, what item couldn’t you do without?
A. A matchbox.
Q. Which three people in travel would you invite to a dinner party?
A. This is a tough one. Having made many friends in the industry I need three whole dinner tables as I wouldn’t want to miss anyone out. However since I can only have three I will have to go for people I personally don’t know – the boss of Google, the boss of Expedia and, of course, the transport minister.
Q. Which three people not in travel would you invite to a dinner party?
A. If this was a wish come true, how about the Pope, Obama and my mum – I’m sure she would give them a piece of her mind!
Q. Which song reminds you of holidays? A. Good Feeling by Etta James
Q. Which is your favourite hotel that you’ve ever stayed in?
A. I have had the opportunity to stay at the Tongabezi Lodge in Zambia.
Tell us something we don’t know about you
Being brought up in Zambia until the age of 17, my first ever job was in travel. For years I sent people on their dream holidays not knowing exactly where they were going – I just knew the three-letter codes (I finally managed to look at the world map to see).
The Pope, Obama and my mum
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