p16 comment mar27 24/3/09 15:09 Page 16
news comment
ttglive.com
Derek Jones Kuoni
“Travel is one of the few
industries where it’s still
possible to start at the
bottom and rise to the top”
I
’ve spent the past three weeks enjoying worked with before; it was like a reunion. And
my induction at Kuoni. It’s odd to be the it was the same when I went out on the road to
new boy again, but one advantage is the visit agents. At one meeting, there were four of
unique opportunity it offers to see things us round the table who 10 years earlier had all
for the first time – to see them as a stranger in worked in the same sales team at Thomson.
a new business. I don’t know if the travel industry is unique
I’ve concluded that there are two distinct but it’s a worryingly self-contained world
groups of people here: those with a tree and sometimes. One day you’re sitting side by side
those without. Don’t worry, this puzzled me with a colleague, the next you’re working your
for a while, until I discovered that Kuoni has a backside off to outmanoeuvre the same person,
great way of recognising long service – you get who now works for your biggest competitor.
to choose a tree of your choice to be planted in There are countless people in the industry,
the grounds of Kuoni House. I found myself some of them now in very senior positions, who
wondering what tree I would choose – I first met when they were working in a small
before remembering that I’d only been travel agency and I was an area sales rep for
here for 10 minutes, and anyway I’d Thomson – dropping in unannounced to deliver
be retired before the question even my best Young at Heart sales pitch. It’s great to
arose. rediscover someone you last saw 15 years ago
What’s really impressive here at and to find them in a senior industry role or
Kuoni is the depth of knowledge, successfully running their own business. Travel
the commitment to great service is one of the few industries where it’s still
and the openness to new possible to start at the bottom and end up at the
ideas. People who have been top. So if you’re reading this on a coffee break
here for 20-plus years are with a colleague, take a good close look:
still passionate about their who knows, one day she could be your CEO.
business and their heritage, It’s a reminder that business is perhaps
but they’re also hungry for best conducted with one eye on the long
different perspectives and game. As my dad used to say, “Be nice to
new ways of working. It’s a the people you meet on the way up: you
great mix of experience, might just bump into them again on
expertise and energy. And the way down”. This was a strangely
the arboretum outside is insightful observation for my dad,
testament to the endurance although, on reflection, I suspect he was
of many of the team! talking about escalators.
It came as something of a surprise to
discover the number of people here that I’ve Derek Jones, distribution director, Kuoni
16 27.03.2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72