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Laura Dawson, APT account manager for UK north, is a would-be zookeeper who whiles away hours behind the wheel with learning French CDs.
Describe your typical week?
I will spend four days on the road with a mix of retail visits, training sessions, events and product meetings, plus one day catching up on admin. I cover everything north of Birmingham so I rack up the miles!
What would we find in your car?
There are always plenty of brochures and other goodies to hand out to agents, plus usually a coat, an umbrella and a spare pair of shoes.
The glove compartment contains some not so secret snacks, which come in handy for traffic jams.
And on the radio?
I usually stick with Radio 1 because it stays with me as I pass through different regions, but I do also have a Learning French CD ready to go on the long journeys.
What food outlet keeps you going on the road?
I try my best to eat healthily when I’m on the road… Boots have launched some great pastas and salads as part of their meal deals that I would highly recommend.
What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever done as part of a sales visit?
Teaming up with Gemma from Travel 2 to raise awareness for Abta LifeLine. We visited agents around South Yorkshire dressed up as a Bavarian Beer Wench and Batwoman.
What’s the best part of being on the road so much?
Being in a new place every day and seeing wonderful travel agents. It’s even better when the sun is shining.
What’s the worst part of being on the road?
Trying to find a car park during bad weather.
How do you think agents would describe you?
I would hope that they say friendly and helpful!
Which agency makes you the best cup of tea?
Ooh this is a tough one! I have so many agents that make good tea. Bonus points to anyone who offers their toilet though – it's something we never take for granted working on the road!
What key messages do you try to convey in an agent visit?
We offer a luxury five-star and premium four-star range of tours and river cruises around the world, so I will spend time explaining the difference between the two and what makes APT different. I also discuss the great special offers agents can pass on to customers.
What’s your advice for agents who don’t currently sell your product but are keen to?
We have three dedicated account managers on the road and would love to work with more agents. APT really is the best product out there in terms of luxury and the all-inclusive aspects. Make an appointment with us so we can do some training and discuss what opportunities are available.
If you didn’t work in travel what would you like to do instead?
A zookeeper, because I am a huge animal lover.
