Q: What is a typical day like for you as a Sales Manager?
A: No day is ever the same but I love to get up early and kick start my morning with a work out, then it’s out on the road as my work day often begins with a meeting with one of our valued trade partners.
We’ll talk about and train them on how to communicate our great brands to their clients. This can also be via a team’s call these days, particularly for our home based and regional business partners.
Outside of visiting consultants I will be working on a variety of projects like agency training documents, consortia newsletters and sales report updates, marketing briefs, booking reply emails, launch events, call planning and responding to individual travel agent requests for assistance.
Q: What are the highlights of your day-to-day work life?
A: TTC is made up of five very different brands: Contiki, Costsaver, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold.
The biggest highlight of my day is when, after working with me to learn about each offering, a travel agent partner advises me they have booked their client a tour with the brand that is most suitable. It is a win for everyone.
Q: You recently hosted an agent famil to America. Who was on the trip and where did you go?
A: The famil took us to Nashville, Memphis, Natchez and New Orleans. I was joined by 10 agents from Australasia who then joined up with 35 agents from across the other major sales regions – Europe, North America and Asia.
Q: You’ve been to the States before. Did it feel different this time around?
A: The country is very much open and back in business. The one thing I noticed that was very different this time was the increased hygiene measures everywhere you go, particularly at airports, tourist attractions, bars and restaurants.
The USA has such a variety of different destinations offering different experiences and culture, but after this trip I am convinced that the USA’s best bits are in the middle – the music and the culture is so unique.
Q: What were some of the highlights of the famil?
A: The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville is a musical institution that has been broadcasting since 1925. Legends such as Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire have all graced this stage while some artists wait decades to perform here.
Every Opry show features live performances by at least eight artists who range from country superstars, award-winning musicians or legendary songwriters. Our night was headlined by some local artists who were Grammy award winners or inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis was another highlight. The Lorraine Motel where the great Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated has been converted into a tribute memorial and impressive museum facility.
The content in this museum is immense and you could easily spend hours here deep diving into the events that forever changed the way African American citizens are treated.
Also, the Landsdowne Estate in Natchez in Mississippi transports you into another world, with its weeping Cyprus trees, magnolias and scented azaleas.
It’s an 18th century home from the pre-Civil War era and is still in the hands of the descendants of the original owners.
You are greeted by Marsha and her family who give you a personal tour of the property and its contents, most of which were recovered and restored from being buried deep underground during the Civil War of the late 1800s.
You are welcomed with local cocktails and dine on a three-course meal showcasing some of the South’s great dishes like a chicken Jambalaya and homemade ginger cake.
A great experience of traditional southern hospitality where you will feel you’ve stepped straight onto the set of Gone With The Wind.
Q: What were some of the key differences you enjoyed on this famil compared to others?
A: I think the most noticeable thing was the overall sense of joy from our travel agent partners to be back on famils, travelling and doing what they love again. It was wonderful to hear their feedback on how this trip will assist them in achieving much success moving forward after a challenging few years for our entire industry.
Travel agents can book with TTC Tour Brands on the TTC Travel Agent Portal.
