What’s your typical week?

I start every day early with a strong cup of coffee while I check my sales figures, then Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and (my guilty pleasure) the Mail Online! My sales area covers the north of England and Scotland so I am out on the road five days a week, and I probably cover a thousand miles a week; the trade is at the core of our business and there is no substitute for face-to-face agent visits. 

How big is Insight’s on-the-road sales team?

There are three of us looking after Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold in the UK – we’re a small but perfectly formed team! Greta Stonestreet covers the south, Jane Fraser takes care of London and special partners, while I look after the north and Scotland.

What do you keep in the back seat of your car?

My back seat is jam-packed with Insight Vacations brochures, and collateral for our new Luxury Gold offering, which is going down well with the trade. I also carry lots of branded items for agencies, including mugs, calendars, posters and banners. There’s a spare coat and who knows what else; honestly, no one has sat in the back seat of my car for years, it’s always full!

What’s on the radio?

I listen to Radio 1 all day long as I love new music. Aside from Adele, I’m currently listening to Jack Garrett and Kendrick Lamar. What food keeps you going on the road? I try and avoid bread, and it can be hard to eat healthily on the road, so I opt for a lot of sushi. The nature of the job means that I stay in a lot of hotels, and sushi isn’t always on the menu, so I’ll confess an occasional steak and chips does slip through!

What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever done on a sales visit?

Once I tripped up on a step and fell face-down in front of an agent’s desk.

What’s your favourite hobby?

I started running last year in a bid to get fit. Now I do it every day and I’m training for the Wolf Run in June.

Which agency gives you the warmest welcome?

This is a tough one to answer as I have the loveliest agents! There’s never a dull moment at Aspen Travel in Hale, with Karen and her team;
I love a good posh coffee and a gossip with the girls at Deva Travel, Chester; and there’s always a warm welcome from Jonathan and Debbie at Key Holidays in Stockport.

What key messages do you try to convey in an agent visit?

Don’t be tempted to sell on price. Customers aren’t always looking to go cheap. In fact, they are looking for consistent quality, unique and authentic encounters, and for added value. The Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold products deliver luxurious and signature experiences that customers won’t find anywhere else, and that’s a real asset for agents.

What’s your advice for agents who don’t currently sell your product but are keen?

Get in touch! We’re here to support you and we want to help you grow your business. One in seven people take an escorted holiday, so every agent should be seeing this trend as an opportunity; by promoting luxury touring there is a real potential to create additional revenue streams. 

If you didn’t work in travel, what would you like to do instead?

A hairdresser. I do my hair in a different way every day and my friends always want me to do their hair before a night out.