TravelMole Time Traveller: Collette Worldwide’s Peter Traynor
In this week's Time Traveller, sponsored by Harp Wallen, Collette Worldwide Holidays general manager – UK, Peter Traynor, takes a trip down memory lane.
What was your first job in travel?
Working as a campsite courier for Canvas Holidays in the French Pyrenees, during my student days. I spent two months in the sun in shorts and T-shirt, and earned 300 francs a month (about £30 quid). I loved it, and spent the next four summers doing the same
thing in the south of France and the Loire Valley. My first manager was Alan
Box, who many readers will remember from Bridge Travel.
At the time Canvas was a family run company, and every courier spent a night
at the owner’s house before setting off for the summer. We were wined and
dined and made to feel like family, which created tremendous loyalty and a
feeling of team spirit.
My first full time job in the industry was as an overseas rep for Cosmos in
the mid 1980s in Morocco, then considered almost a long-haul destination!
What was the high point of your career?
For a number of years in the late ‘80’s/early ‘90’s I had what many considered to be the best role at Cosmos – living in Florida, responsible for the Cosmos operations from Hawaii to Mexico, including the Caribbean. It was a very exciting time as new
destinations were opened up to the charter market for the first time, like
Cancun, Dominican Republic and Margarita island, and living in the USA was a
definite change from North Africa.
However, I like to think that the high point of my career is still ahead of
me, with Collette Worldwide.
What was the low point?
Probably a summer of night flights and weekly over-bookings at a large hotel that will remain nameless on the island of Corfu in the mid 1980’s.
What's your biggest regret?
I am a positive person, and don’t really do regrets. However, Blackpool beating Cardiff City in the 2010 Premiership Play Off Final comes pretty close.
What would you be doing now if you weren't in travel?
Well, I wouldn’t be in a Days Inn on the M40, ( the glamour of the travel industry) , or perhaps I would? Before joining Cosmos I came close to joining Rothmans
International as a marketing manager based in West Africa – I wonder where
I would be now if that had come off? However I think my ideal job would be
sports commentator for BBC Wales – watching Welsh rugby and Cardiff City and
getting paid for it ….I’d settle for that.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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