| FACE-2-FACE: 27 Feb 19

KARYN

Blenkiron

Senior Sales Development Manager NZ, Scenic Group.

1. What motivates you in your career?

Seeing a customer book the trip of a lifetime or hearing all about what the trip with Scenic meant to them. We are selling dreams, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s the first level cabin or the owners suite, that trip is still a dream come true to the passenger.

2. Most common assumption people make about your job?

That I am a travel agent, or from a kids’ perspective, that I either fly on planes or drive cars a lot and talk to people all day, and sometimes I take them away and give them lots of food, drink and activities (that’s pretty much accurate!)

3. What is the key to building great relationships with travel agents?

Being there for the agents, not just when we want to tell them something or give them our brochures, but also be there to help them out with any difficulties that come up. Be honest and respectful and you will get that same back.

4. Biggest challenge facing the industry?

2/1 offers– consumers are losing confidence in booking in advance in case it becomes cheaper later. With Scenic NZ it won’t, but the consumers don’t believe that (and then when it does they blame you for not insisting they book at pre-release stage).

5. Advice for up-and-comers?

Listen to what the agents want, don’t ever assume. Ask questions and be guided by their answers – no question is a silly question.

6. What was your best fam trip?

Canada – Calgary to Victoria in Apr 2018. Wow. What Scenic and our other amazing suppliers deliver, is everything & more than what we promise.