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THIS WEEK: LAURA GARNER


APPRENTICE AGENT, HAYS TRAVEL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT


Q&A


Laura, right, with (from left) Kayleigh Ellis, Sian Jones and Catherine Lornie


Hays Travel’s Laura Garner is the first of 12 agents to spill the beans on the latest of Travel Weekly’s annual Cover Stars trip – her first ever fam. Samantha Mayling reports


Q. Why did you apply to Cover Stars? A. I spotted the Cover Stars competition in Travel Weekly and thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was really lucky to get on the Cover Stars trip, and my cousin Katie Watt (Virgin Holidays, Woking) was on the trip too. I had only been to the US once before, when I went to Orlando as a child.


Q. Have you been on fam trips before? A. This was my first fam trip, although I have been on ship visits before. The ages of the agents ranged from 18 to over 50 and it was a lovely mix – it was inspiring and motivating talking to the older agents about why they’re in travel.


Q. What were the flights like? A. We flew to Miami with British Airways. We were in economy on the way there, and premium economy on the way back. I slept for eight hours on the flight back. I would recommend upgrading to premium economy for the bigger seats, especially for taller clients.


Q. Where did you stay in Miami? A. Thanks to Gold Medal, we checked in at the Eden Roc Miami Beach hotel, where I had a junior suite. It was incredible, with a massive balcony – you could keep the curtains open and watch the sunrise. We also stayed there for our final day, after the cruise, and we went to South Beach in Miami to look around and have cocktails. I would feel confident selling Eden Roc as it’s beautiful and it’s right on the beachfront.


Q. What was your cruise like? A. We had a four-night Bahamas cruise on Norwegian Sky, on a premium all- inclusive basis. I have been on ship visits before, but not a cruise. I had my Cover Stars photoshoot at sunset, during the sailaway party, so they cordoned off an area for me. People were watching my photoshoot, so I felt like a celebrity as we sailed out of Miami. The sun was setting and people were having their drinks by the pool.


Q. What were the ship’s facilities like? A. The entertainment is a big selling point, for adults and kids, with activities by the pool, and music. The passengers


34travelweekly.co.uk3 January 2019


PHOTOS: STEVE HOCKSTEIN/HARVARD STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY


2019


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