Midweek Interview with Celestyal Cruises’ Stewart Williams
Celestyal Cruises’ APAC regional manager takes a seat on the Travel Weekly pew for a chat and some singing of hymns.
The challenge for the industry is…
With such a large selection of fantastic cruise products available, the challenge is endeavouring to train the agents to remember your company’s unique value proposition.
The things I like about my job are…
I love creating mutual business opportunities, networking and representing a quality cruise product. My Celestyal Cruises HQ support team are outstanding!
I also love that the company I work for actively gives back to the communities in the destinations it travels to, particularly in the area of education.
From 2015, more than 2,500 Greek students on the islands of Milos, Patmos, Ios and Samos, have enjoyed a “journey to knowledge” organised by Celestyal Cruises, by attending the Museums Program, an initiative by Celestyal Cruises to bring interactive exhibits from the highly respected Herakleidon Museum in Athens to remote areas in the Greek Islands, so that students can learn first-hand about the connection between science, art and mathematics.
If I didn’t work in travel, I would be…
In the hospitality/restaurant industry.
The destinations I’m most excited to see are…
The ones with fantastic local food/wine – there is a lot of great wineries and local food (such as fava) in Santorini, and Celestyal Cruises offer a great excursion to a traditional family winery in the countryside on the Greek island of Crete.
My proudest moment was…
Achieving my MBA, while raising a young family and being the managing of a multi-million dollar wholesale travel business.
The funniest moment I’ve ever had on a trip was…
When I was a European tour director, looking for a restaurant and getting completely lost in the back streets of Barcelona, Spain with 45 hungry passengers closely following me…
I try to relax by…
Bush walking and playing golf – though, most of the time my golf is not too relaxing!
A secret I can tell you about taking a Celestyal cruise is…
There’s a hidden bar at the very top of the Celestyal Olympia ship, called Horizons, that you can only access by one stairwell – it has 360-degree views of the Aegean Sea. Order an Ouzotini – a special Greek cocktail.
If I can, I always try to avoid…
Crowds and queues. Hot tip: if you take a Celestyal cruise earlier in the year around March/April, you can enjoy the famous Santorini sunset in Oia Village all to yourself!
The best advice I’ve ever received was…
When travelling, never judge a person by first appearances.
If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would…
Support my daughters to invest for their futures.
If I could be someone else for a day I would be a…
Paediatrician.
I’ve always wanted to travel to…
See natural wildlife in both North and South Poles.
My favourite holiday was…
Snow skiing with my wife and daughters in Niseko, Japan.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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