Midweek Interview with Cox & King’s Damian Perry

We chat with Damian Perry, the CEO of Cox & Kings Group that manages Bentours, Hurtigruten, Tempo and Explore, getting the lowdown on diversity in the industry, joint ventures, and buying an island.

The challenge for the industry is…

Remaining relevant. We need to quickly adapt to changing consumer buying behaviour. The industry has a limited timeframe on dictating the supply chain.

Consumers are faster, more courageous and determined than ever before. While we may still have a significant audience that believe in the traditional travel industry model; the new travel consumer is rapidly changing the environment.

That’s why we have introduced a new way to inspire consumers and transform the way clients and agents research and engage in the sales process. Our new Compass Magazine combines both aspirational stories, tips and advice for travellers, with product embedded in the destination stories.

It couldn’t be a more exciting time for us. Our ‘bro-zine’ as I like to call it, will inspire customers with interesting stories on the hottest destinations right now and add value for the consumer with great tips and insider knowledge that you don’t get from a traditional brochure.

Only those innovative enough to offer a genuine benefit to the traveller will survive. And that benefit is way beyond the free inclusions and smoke and mirrors of today.

The things I like about my job…

Diversity. We have numerous businesses in our global group.

These range from traditional business models, bed banks, hotel groups, learning and education units and cultural touring to business incubators, start-ups and teams dedicated to the fastest growing middle class economies and fastest growing travel communities in the world.

You probably ran out of breath just reading that, so as you can see there is never a dull moment.

And the frustrations are…

Speed – Trying to get all the great ideas out with the resources available on any one day. There are great people doing fantastic work in our teams but we always want to be that one per cent better every day. That’s the simple mission we have daily.

If I didn’t work in travel I would be…

A motorcycle grease monkey! I love bikes, the classics and the current café racer trend. I would quite happily tinker all day if I could create the new from the old.

My proudest moment was…

Delivering a brilliant solution, together with our teams, for a beautifully unique and wonderful company with a genuine pioneering spirit. That company being Hurtigruten.

They believed in my direction and I believed in their incredible story, and vision. They have great people that will leave an impression on all that come across the Hurtigruten experience and a history of pioneering and exploration that is wrapped around a vision of innovation and sustainability.

These ideals align strongly with my own and compliments our Bentours brand perfectly. This exclusive joint venture has opened the door to new ideas, and offered a path forward for Bentours and Hurtigruten that truly benefits the traveller.

Also our new Compass Magazine that I talked about above. A lot of work went into producing it and it truly is fantastic!

I try to relax by…

Going off grid. There are a few spots where you’re just out of reach. What a great feeling!

I really wish I had…

Time – more time. Not because I’m so busy but because you only have one go and it doesn’t seem long enough.

The best advice I’ve ever received was…

I thought my friend was a genius until he quoted Mark Twain – “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did”.

I don’t understand why people…

Don’t always step up and ‘own it’, rather than deflect and externalise. I have met a few beauties in my time and they will run over those around them for their own benefit. I find people and their behaviour fascinating.

My greatest weakness is…

Great red wine with good friends.

And my greatest strength is…

Determination and creativity. Anything is worth a go with a focus on continual progress. And if it fails – get up and try again.

If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would…

Buy an island – can you still do that? Obviously not in Australia but hey, there must be a sandbar somewhere around the world for sale.

If I was prime minister I would…

Be more humane than the ones we have / had. The PM will always be knocked down so you may as well go down fighting for the right causes for those in need.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be a…

Paul Allen. How does a genius see the world?

I’ve always wanted to travel to…

Anywhere – Sorry but I’m just happy on the road travelling with the family. It’s a great time.

My favourite holiday was…

My last one – as long as I’m having them I’m happy.

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

Agent Zone Cox & Kings Group Damian Perry midweek interview