Midweek Interview: Gemma Steel, Reservations Manager, The African Travel Specialists

Midweek Interview: Gemma Steel, Reservations Manager, The African Travel Specialists
By Kate Webster


The challenge for the industry is… Educating travellers that while the internet may be able to pull an itinerary together – it won’t save them money! Nor will it give them the rich, first hand, specialist knowledge our team can share from a wealth of experience and having the advantage of knowing and working in one region. The African Travel Specialists (A division of The Travel Specialists) can turn a “standard trip” into a “dream holiday”.

The things I like about my job… As an African Travel Specialist, I love the diversity of product and the freedom to tailor make itineraries to the specific needs of each client. Over the years I have developed some fantastic relationships with our agents and clients.  It is such a pleasure to hear about people’s trips when they get home.

And the frustrations are… Africa can hand you some interesting challenges. A client recently chartered a plane out of one of the game parks. Earlier that morning a baboon had broken into the plane and ripped the interior to pieces rendering it useless. Luckily we managed to get another charter out to the airstrip in time and he made it but not before I sprouted a grey hair or two!

If I didn’t work in travel I would be… An interpreter, I love learning languages.

Favourite airline? I regularly fly home to family in the UK and I love the on-board entertainment system that Emirates offers.

My proudest moment was… Escorting my first group trip to Africa with The Travel Specialists almost 10 years ago.

The naughtiest thing I ever did was… As a teenager I used to steal cigarettes from my sister’s handbag and smoke them in our attic

I try to relax by… I recently bought a house and have discovered that I actually quite like gardening… definitely getting old!

The last time I feared for my life was… White water rafting on the Zambezi in Victoria Falls, I fell out at every rapid.

If I can, I always try to avoid… Heights.

I really wish I had… A private plane.

The best advice I’ve ever received was… From my big sister when contemplating whether to move to China; “if you don’t do it you will always wonder but if you go and you don’t like it you can always just come home”  I was there for 3 years.

I don’t understand why people… Would vote for Donald Trump.

My greatest weakness is… Mexican soap operas and ice cream.

And my greatest strength is… Attention to detail.

If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would… Fly all our family over for our upcoming wedding and have a fantastic shindig!

If I was prime minister I would… Legalize gay marriage.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be a… A guest at a day spa.

I’ve always wanted to travel to… Bhutan.

My favourite holiday moment was… Learning how to “shoulder dance” with the locals on my recent trip to Ethiopia.

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