TravelMole Time Traveller: Getabed’s Mark Hopper
Getabed.co.uk sales director Mark Hopper is this week's Time Traveller, sponsored by Harp Wallen.
What was your first job in travel?
YTS (Youth Training Scheme) for Thomas Cook in Durham as an innocent 16-year-old
What was the high point of your career?
Being offered my current role as sales director at Getabed. There have been many high points from my travelling to winning awards.
What was the low point?
I’ve had a couple of redundancies in my career. Also one year I spent Christmas Day alone in a far away Austrian ski resort. I was very lonely and it made me decide to make Christmas Day special from then on, being around good friends and family.
What's your biggest regret?
Life’s too short for regrets, but I did once turn down an opportunity to crew a yacht for the winter in the Caribbean to go skiing.
What would you be doing now if you weren't in travel?
Footballer! I played to a decent standard when I was a lot younger, but then girls, motorbikes and Marlboros got in the way.
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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