Midweek Interview: Trace Olsen, National Sales Manager, Mandarin World Tours

Midweek Interview: Trace Olsen, National Sales Manager, Mandarin World Tours

The challenge for the industry is… educating our clients the benefits of booking with a Travel Agent rather than the online companies.

The things I like about my job are… meeting such worldly knowledgable people and hearing about their travels.

And the frustrations are… when people leave a voicemail and don’t give you a reason for their call and I have to call them back then make another few phone calls to get the answer and call them back again – my pet hate, sorry rant over.

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

Favourite airline? Oh dear I will upset some of my industry friends here but I think its no secret, EMIRATES ALL THE WAY!! They’ve been very good to me over the years!

My proudest moment was… when I won the FCTG QLD Favourite BDM 2 yrs running voted by all the beautiful travel agents.

The naughtiest thing I ever did was… got on a stange mans scooter in my bikini with no helmet in Phuket while under the influence of many cocktails!! (that’s my cleanest answer for you)

I try to relax by… dreaming of Boracay

The last time I feared for my life was… on a Spice Jet flight in India when we had an aborted landing!

If I can, I always try to avoid… sitting next to the sleezy old man on my flight but always manage to get them, not had a nice looking one yet unfortunately.

I really wish I had… a private jet

The best advice I’ve ever received was… from my Team Leader in my first travel job, if no one has died, it can always be fixed – don’t stress!

I don’t understand why people… never leave their home town.

My greatest weakness is… giving more of my time than I have to give.

And my greatest strength is… giving more of my time than I have to give haha!

If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would… buy a private jet or a property in Lennox Head/Northern NSW.

If I was prime minister I would… cut the expenditure of our politicians travel expences and give it to the homeless and instead of increasing the high income earners tax, make it compulsory for them to donate it to the homeless in our country.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be a… MAN, any man, just the average ‘joe blo’ Sorry but I think they get it pretty easy.

I’ve always wanted to travel to… BHUTAN!!

My favourite holiday was… BORACAY, The Philippines this year because it was the first holiday I’ve taken in 20 years with my best friends to a destination of my choice and it was the best value for money. Great beaches, food, people, landscape, activities and the Lind Hotel was the best property I’ve stayed in for a long time offering the greatest service one could experience.

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