Midweek interview with Thomas Gjerde, Sales Manager QLD and WA, Air Canada

Midweek interview with Thomas Gjerde, Sales Manager QLD and WA, Air Canada
By admin


The challenge for the industry is… Catering to the needs of more educated and smarter travellers.

The things I like about my job are… Continuously getting to know new people.

And the frustrations… The great distances in my territory, which covers all of Queensland and Western Australia.

If I didn’t work in travel I would be a… Skipper on a fishing boat or a NYC property developer, either would do me just fine.

Qantas or Virgin? Both are excellent airlines. Qantas have really improved their service levels and I have been impressed by some real star performers among their crew on international routes.

My proudest moment was… When my daughter was born, it was the most incredible feeling ever.

The naughtiest thing I ever did was… Getting two speeding fines in two days – now I am driving like Ned Flanders on the way to church.

I try to relax by… Going for a run on the beach.

The last time I feared for my life… Arriving in a tiny village in northern Vietnam where suddenly 100 Hmong people came running for us shouting and screaming, banging on the car windows… Turned out they were just excited to meet new people they could sell their handicrafts to.

If I can, I always try to avoid… Flying to Canada via the US – it is so much better to go direct on AC34 and avoid hours in customs queues!

I really wish I had…A boat.

The best advice I’ve ever received was… When I was a little boy skiing, I watched my dad fall and slide all the way down the World Cup slope in Narvik Norway, where I grew up. When he finally got to the bottom he went straight back up on the lift to give it another shot. It taught me to never give up. If you fail get back up and try again.

I don’t understand why… I don't have a boat.

My greatest weakness is… Impatience.

And my greatest strength… Never giving up.

If I was prime minister I would… Give everyone an extra week holiday a year.

If I won $1 million on the lottery I would… Buy a sailing boat and sail around the Greek islands.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be… A billionaire with a boat.

I’ve always wanted to travel to… New York. So much so that I keep going back there whenever I get a chance.

My favourite holiday was… A family trip to Fiji when my daughter was seven months old.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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