p76 MLIT mar20 18/3/09 12:08 Page 76
Your Space
The page that puts YOU in the spotlight! Go to
yourspace-ttglive.com
My life
in travel
Gillian shares with us her best
clients, embarrassing moments
What has been your favourite fam trip? about flights, saying: “I don’t need flights for
– and why she wants to work
The fam I went on to South Africa really high- Southend-on-Sea!”
in TV, or deal with celebrities
lighted the culture which you need to witness
to be able to sell it. We did a safari in Madikwe If you could be a celebrity for a day, who would
(above) and saw the Big Five, which was fantas- you be and why?
Do you remember the first booking you made? tic though the animals’ calls at night were scary! Michael Palin. I’d love to go to unusual places
Yes, it was a two-week holiday in Majorca for a and interact with the locals to see how they live.
family. I was only 17 and so nervous I was shak- What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given by
ing. The client asked what the agency’s Abta a customer and what did you do to earn it? What would be your dream job in travel?
number was but I hadn’t got I once got a bunch of flowers from a lady thank- To work for a travel show. I watch all of them and
a clue what they were ing me for booking her a last-minute hotel and love them. Or I’d like to work as a concierge for
talking about! train tickets because of a a hotel which attracts high-profile clients.
family emergency. She
What’s the most memo-
Gillian
hadn’t had any luck with What advice would you give to somebody
rable booking you’ve Davis other agents and said she thinking about a career as a travel agent?
ever made and why? Age: 52 had begun to despair. You can’t do this job unless you’re dedicated to
I booked a wedding party Works for: Travel Counsellors it. I had no travel qualifications and took a
to Barbados for an old Job title: Personal travel What has been the most temping role until a job came up. But it was
school friend. It comprised counsellor embarrassing moment what I always wanted to do. Common sense
28 separate bookings How long in the job: Six weeks during your career ? doesn’t go amiss either!
which we started 12 but 28 years in travel! An American guy with a
months in advance of them What was your first job: Travel very thick accent once
going. It was a year-long clerk at Alexandra Travel, Enfield came in and asked to go to ■If you are an agent and would like to appear in
booking because we just What other jobs have you done South Tennessee. I got re- YourSpace, send us your name, agency name,
added more and more in travel: I’ve always been in ally excited because I had phone number and a few lines about yourself by
elements as time went sales at Alexandra Travel until I been there and loved it. email to
ohemmings@ttglive.com; or post to
on. The whole thing was started at Travel Counsellors But he started to look con- TTG YourSpace, First Floor, Ludgate House,
really enjoyable. fused when I began talking 245 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 9UY
THE TTG TRAVEL AWARDS 2009
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76 20.03.2009
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