What qualifications and training do you have?
I have been trained on specific areas and lodging through the different employers I've worked with, as well as by the lodging companies themselves. The first travel company that employed me required sales and travel experience only and they trained me on the rest. However, the best "training" I have received is while actually travelling. I have travelled independently, as part of a group, on short trips, long trips, ridiculously low-budget, ridiculously high-end and everything in between. This is by far the most important training I have had.
Is this the only way you can become a travel consultant? If not, what other routes can you take?
You can, of course, go the conventional route and get a travel/tourism diploma, but one must still couple it with travel experience. How many people want to take travel advice from a consultant who hasn't travelled? Zero.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in the travel industry?
I would only advise people who are passionate about travel to pursue a career in this industry. Like any other, it is not all fun and games. There is a lot of difficult, demanding and sometimes frustrating work involved. I'm in this industry because it is my passion, and the travel perks aren't bad either.
What is the best trip you have ever been on?
My first extended backpacking holiday. It was the trip where I fell in love ... with travel. While every country I've visited has taught me something, expanded my mind, given me a break from routine and challenged me in one way or another, my first love will always have a special place in my heart.
Have you or your clients had any "holiday in hell" experiences?
I had a client who cancelled her first trip to Thailand because of the tsunami in December 2004 and then booked again a few years later (all the while fretting that something bad would happen again). During her trip there were massive protests that closed the main airport, and she was stuck on an island. She was very upset about this. Personally I would have been happy to be stuck on a beautiful island.
I've had not-so-great experiences. Once I stayed in an ashram in India where I found cockroaches in my headboard, but I only discovered them after sleeping there for seven nights. A pimp hit me with his scooter in Vietnam, I nearly got kidnapped, had hundreds of dollars stolen in Peru. The list goes on, but it's all part of the experience. Those experiences that I didn't particularly enjoy at the time are often my favourite things to look back on and laugh at. And everyone loves a good story.
What are the classic mistakes people make when planning and booking a holiday?
They don't do research. They choose a destination because someone mentioned it to them and they have no real idea where they are going. Then there are those who book every single second of their trip and don't give themselves a spare moment to absorb their surroundings or be spontaneous. A holiday is supposed to be relaxing. Give yourself time to relax.
Many people go online to book tours and flights. What should they beware of when doing this?
When booking flights online, please make sure you are booking the right city. There is the famous case where a woman booked a flight to what she thought was Sydney, Australia, and wound up in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Surprise! Also, remember that if you book online, you have little support if something goes wrong or if you need to make a change. Let a travel agent stay on hold for ages with the airlines, why must you do it? I still book all my international flights with a travel consultant. When booking tours, again, do your research to make sure they are legitimate and other people recommend them. Research is key. Plus it's fun and should be a part of the trip itself.
What would you like to change about your job?
I would like to interact more with the consultants and clients, as most of my work is done via e-mail. I miss face-to-face contact.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
An actress, a divorce lawyer (I can't remember why), a psychiatrist. I think there were more. I was all over the place.
What or who inspires you?
People who look outside the box and follow their own path inspire me. At the same time, people who are genuinely happy - and it's often those who have very little (materially speaking) who are the happiest - also inspire me. Travelling inspires me in many different ways: to photograph, to write, to do something meaningful with my life.
Which time of day is your favourite?
I do love sunset, that point when the day is rolling down and everything becomes quiet. Especially here in Cape Town, where we are blessed with magnificent sunsets every night.
Author: Margaret Harris
Source: Times Live
