Midweek Interview with Tracy Parkinson, country manager, Travel Counsellors

Midweek Interview with Tracy Parkinson, country manager, Travel Counsellors
By admin


The challenge for the industry is… not being too hung up on the internet being a competition. Travel agents have always had competition in one form or another and have survived. So, we should embrace the internet and use it to our advantage.

The things I like about my job is… the people I work with and being able to give job satisfaction back to travel agents. There is nothing better than knowing that you have just confirmed the perfect holiday for your customer.

And the frustrations are… there are not enough hours in the day. I love coming up with ideas and making them happen, so get frustrated when the day ends.

If I didn’t work in travel… I would run a boutique hotel on the Great Ocean Road. What a great part of the world at every time of the year, and being able to share it with customers who appreciate the better things in life would be great.

Qantas or Virgin? Virgin

My proudest moment was… being promoted to country manager for Travel Counsellors….and of course the birth of my two daughters!

The naughtiest thing I ever did… I am never naughty!

I try to relax by… spending time with my family and exploring all that Australia has to offer. I love nothing more than a bbq overlooking a stunning beach.

The last time I feared for my life was… when my horse bolted on a winery tour straight into a tree, knocking me off in the process. Not a pretty sight!

If I can, I always try to avoid… arriving at the airport late! There is nothing worse than running through the airport and arriving at your plane hot and flustered. I always try to arrive at the airport in plenty of time so that I can enjoy the experience, have a coffee and take my seat in a civilised manner.

I really wish I had… to be honest, I don’t have any regrets. I try to go through life and grasp every opportunity that presents itself. If there is something that I want to do or achieve, I go for it so that I can go through life and never think ‘I wish I had….’

The best advice I’ve ever received was… to always enjoy what you do. If you have a passion for what you are doing, whether that be in your personal life or professional, it will never get boring….you will enjoy every day of your life.

I don’t understand why… every travel agent in Australia isn’t a Travel Counsellor.

My greatest weakness is… chocolate! I just can’t resist a chocolate bar after dinner.

And my greatest strength… is my determination. I love a challenge and to make things work. I don’t give up on anything that I start, until it has been completed to the standard I want… and that can be quite high.

If I was prime minister I would… ensure that there's an approved plan to have a train service from Melbourne Airport to the city

If I won $1 million on the lottery I would… take all my friends and family om holiday for an extended period of time.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be… Ellen (DeGeneres). Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a real talker!

I’ve always wanted to travel to… South Africa. I would love to experience a safari and the excitement of seeing animals in their natural environment. The thought of sleeping in a luxury tent with the wildlife just outside.

My favourite holiday was… my honeymoon to Thailand – four weeks of amazing scenery, great food and lots of exploring.

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