TravelMole Time Traveller: Kate Burgess of Visit USA Association

Kate Burgess, chairman of the Visit USA Association is this week’s Time Traveller, sponsored by Harp Wallen.

What was your first job in travel?

My first travel job was as group PR manager at tour operator Unijet, based in Haywards Heath, which I joined in March 1995.  I’d previously worked in food PR, where my claim to fame was introducing the little red cranberry to Delia Smith, but having always loved travelling the world, the Unijet job was perfect for me.

What has been the high point of your career?

Being elected to the Board of the Visit USA Association and then my fellow directors voting me to be Chair.  I have always loved the USA and been closely connected to it since travelling there aged 16 to spend the summer with cousins in Connecticut.  Much of my travel career has centred on America, from  promoting package holidays by Unijet and Travel City Direct to destinations like Florida, the Keys, Capital Region and New England.  That’s why I felt that I should give something back to the industry that has supported me for so long, hence volunteering for the Board and the ultimate top job as Chair.  Standing up there in front of 400 merry colleagues at the Visit USA Ball giving a speech is pretty scary stuff but also a great honour.

What was the low point?

I’m pleased to say there haven’t been too many low points, but losing clients that have been nurtured for many years is very hard, particularly when it’s just all down to politics.  Happily that’s only happened twice in 14 years, so I’m not doing too badly!

Who or what has been the greatest influence on your career?

I have a very strong drive to succeed, make things happen and never be satisfied with the status quo which has had a huge influence on my career.  I’m also a bit of a control freak and it was the desire to control my own destiny that prompted me to set up KBC PR & Marketing back in 1998.  The person who helped give me the confidence to do that was Jo Rzymowska, who was then setting up Universal Studios’ London office.  She asked me to pitch for her PR contract when I was on maternity leave and whilst I didn’t get it, the fact that she asked me made me realise I had marketable skills and could take the risk of going it alone.  I’ve never looked back, so thanks Jo.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

Probably splitting my time between KBC and WJ King Brewery in Horsham, which I co-own. We’re hoping to start exporting ale to the USA soon, so I’m sure my contacts out there will come in useful! I’d also very much like to work as a non-executive director for other travel businesses, using the marketing, communications and business experience I’ve gained to help other companies in our sector. 

What would you be doing now if you weren’t in travel?

I’m sure I would have stayed in the food industry, still working in PR and marketing, as I really loved those cranberries. I probably would have got into the beer business much sooner too – having a brewer for a husband means beer has been fairly central to my life for the past 30 years, but the industry didn’t appeal to me as much as travel.