p56-57 face of nov7 4/11/08 20:01 Page 56
knowledge face of travel
ttglive.com
TTG’s two Face of Travel
winners have just returned
from one of their prizes –
an 11-night cruise onboard
Independence of the Seas
around the Canary Islands.
Olivia Hemmings asks
them about the highlights
of the past six months and
if winning the contest has
met their expectations
WHAT THEY WON
As TTG’s two Face of Travel 2008 winners, Ryan Inman
and Karen Eason won all these prizes:
■ Attendance at the onboard launch celebrations for
Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, including
a live performance by Scouting for Girls
■ Visit to Azamara Journey in London
■ Lunch onboard Celebrity Constellation in Harwich
■ Invitation to TTG’s Chester Race Day
■ Guests of honour at the TTG Travel Awards
■ Roving Readers at Abta’s Travel Convention
■ An 11-night cruise onboard Independence of the Seas
■ Attendance at launch of Celebrity Solstice
The winners
RYAN INMAN.
How has winning Face of Travel helped you and if more information is needed, I am
Cruise Thomas Cook in your job? asked for it. It hasn’t been too tricky.
The cruise onboard Independence is just I have learned a lot about the industry as
one of several prizes you won as a Face of a whole, through attending events such as Has the experience of winning the
Travel. What has been the best experience? Abta. They have provided me with ideas on competition met your expectations and
Going to Abta’s Travel Convention as a TTG aspects such as motivating staff, which I can would you recommend agents get involved
Roving Reader has to be my favourite. The apply in my role. in Face of Travel 2009?
sessions were more targeted than I’d expected. The conversations I have had with cruise I’ve always wanted to do something to boost
The cruise masterclass was particularly useful suppliers at these events have also given me my career and represent Thomas Cook. I
– hearing what experts had to say about the a better understanding of their products. thought the competition would be a good
sector’s future and picking up selling tips. I’ve even been able to experience some of way of doing that – but it’s
For example, they suggested we emphasise them first hand as a Face of Travel winner. done far more. I would
the “value” of cruise, rather than the price. Spending 11 nights onboard Independence, recommend agents
It was also great to attend the TTG Travel for example, meant I could experience its get involved next
Awards. We had the red-carpet treatment whole offering, such as ice-skating, rock- year, if only for the
from the moment we arrived. During the climbing and, of course, the food. You can’t experience of enter-
evening, a spotlight picked out Karen and take all of that in during a quick visit. Now I ing and presenting
myself for acknowledgement, which was great. can go back to work with all this knowledge, yourself to a panel
which I can use in staff training. of judges.
What other opportunities have come about? The experience has also boosted my confi-
I have been invited by Thomas Cook bosses dence. Twelve months ago I was quite timid;
to events I wouldn’t normally get to attend. now I’m doing things such as going to Abta
I have also become a member of Royal on my own and reporting back to colleagues.
Caribbean’s Learning Community initiative.
It was set up exclusively for Face of Travel How have you found reporting for TTG?
Ryan
finalists with the aim of building our I was nervous before I started, but it has
knowledge about the line’s products via been great. I have been given guidance about
Inman
access to a dedicated training team. what to consider when I write up reports,
56 07.11.2008
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