An
apprenticeship in S
a travel agency is a great introduction
Lloyd Morris key account manager, Riviera Travel
I’ve always had an interest in travel, so I did a two-year national diploma in travel and tourism at college. I’d applied to study travel and tourism at university, but I got offered an apprenticeship in a local travel agency, so I ended up doing that instead and stayed for seven years! It was the best introduction to the travel industry I could have had. I became assistant manager of the headquarters branch
in Bridgend, Wales, so I made as many connections as possible by attending events and trips, and heard about a position at tour and cruise operator Globus (which owns Cosmos and Avalon Waterways). I stayed there for just over five years until I got my current role this January. Riviera Travel sells cruises and tours across the world and my
role involves managing relationships with our agent accounts, visiting agents in store, attending training and other events and sometimes hosting trips. Our goal is for Riviera to be at the forefront of agents’ minds so they think of us when they get an enquiry, so a lot of that is about building trust and friendships. Everyone is so passionate about what they do, and I
love working in travel – I’ve made friends for life. It’s like one big family and there’s no other industry like it.
MY WEEK IN TRAVEL
MONDAY: I work from home and get my admin done. Recently I was preparing for a trade conference for adventure tour operators and travel agents, helping to design an interactive stand that will encourage agents to stop by.
TUESDAY: I’ll be out on the road visiting the stores of travel HNLUJPLZ 0 ^VYR ^P[O 0 [Y` [V ]PZP[ HYV\UK Ä]L PU H KH` [V [HSR about Riviera Travel’s cruises and tours, and update agents VU V\Y SH[LZ[ VffLYZ VY UL^ P[PULYHYPLZ 0 [YH]LS HSS V]LY [OL country and often stay overnight in places – recently I’ve been to Blackpool, Manchester and London, so it’s really varied.
WEDNESDAY:Midweek I might be heading to a client event to give a presentation; sometimes I’ll do three or four a week, which keeps me busy! During these events, the travel agency invites their customers along and we talk directly to them about our tours and cruises.
THURSDAY: I’m usually visiting more agencies. But I might also be training agents at a roadshow or attending a conference – and these are far from boring! There are usually lots of fun events and it’s great to catch up with travel industry colleagues.
Lloyd with agents on a fam trip sailing on the Rhine and Moselle
FRIDAY: I’ll normally get more admin done, but every ^LLR PZ KPffLYLU[ ¶ VJJHZPVUHSS` 0 TPNO[ IL OVZ[PUN H MHT (educational) trip so our travel agents can experience our cruises or tours. This year I took six agents to Croatia on a yacht cruise, and in summer I took a group on a river cruise on the Rhine and Moselle – it’s a great way to see the product and one of the many bonuses of working in this industry.
takeoffintravel.co.uk 35
to the industry, so if you’ve got one local to you, go in and ask if they have any openings
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