Midweek interview with Michael Woods, Country Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism

Midweek interview with Michael Woods, Country Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism
By admin


The challenge for the industry is… Keeping up with ever changing requirements of an increasingly sophisticated, information-hungry and demanding consumer.

The things I like about my job are… Having the opportunity to work with an amazingly diverse and exciting destination that is evolving at lighting speed. Being given the flexibility & freedom to develop creative & fun strategies to promote Abu Dhabi to the Aussie trade & consumers

And the frustrations… Jetlag after a quick trip to Head Office!

If I didn’t work in travel I would be a… An architect or a game show host

Qantas or Virgin? Qantas – since I started my illustrious career with its domestic predecessor many moons ago…

My proudest moment was… Teaching a pommy mate who was terrified of the water to swim – then getting beaten by him swimming across Sydney Harbour a year later in the now defunct Qantas Cities Biathlon!

The naughtiest thing I ever did was… A gentleman never tells

I try to relax by… Hanging with friends & family or researching my next adventure

The last time I feared for my life… Being caught in a fierce gale on my dad’s yacht as a kid – the mast was almost horizontal with the water – thought we were gonners!

If I can, I always try to avoid… Bigots

I really wish I had… Known then what I know now

The best advice I’ve ever received was… Life’s too short to drink bad wine

I don’t understand why… Some people don’t travel

My greatest weakness is… A good shiraz

And my greatest strength… Convincing and inspiring others – to travel more

If I was prime minister I would… Try to inspire the population rather than scare them

If I won $1 million on the lottery I would… Travel, give, invest …. repeat

If I could be someone else for one day I would be… Alexander the Great

I’ve always wanted to travel to… Everywhere I haven’t been yet

My favourite holiday was… Childhood yachting holidays (without the gales)

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