Do you dream of making travel your job? Well, find out the reasons why I love my job as a Travel Designer in France.
I am really lucky to work as a travel designer. There are so many parts of the job that I love. This article outlines the reasons why that is the case.
The main reasons of course are:
• Feedback that warms the heart, and just keeps giving
• Long term relationships with ‘suppliers’ becoming friends
• Fulfilling a dream
• The ‘FAM’ experiences that can’t be beaten, and don’t feel at all like work
• Wonderful connections with travelers, that last many years
So the one thing that really makes me feel great in my work is a nice piece of detailed feedback. It is like receiving the best news ever. I am lucky to have many travelers writing to me overnight; this means I wake up to a list of emails. These post-trip reviews are the first emails I choose to read, and the first ones I share around the office.
A great travel review (what I would call a 5-star review) mentions me by name, provides precise details of what they loved, and notes if there were any surprises. This is of course a validation that we are doing great work, and of course I cannot deny that it gives a nice ego-boost.
I also appreciate these because I know that they come from a heart-felt wish of each traveler to express their opinion on what they have invested in (time and hard-earned cash). I recognize that the day after the traveler gets back home, he or she is bombarded by life (emails, bills, work) so it is normal that they often do not get a chance after they depart. But that is why each piece of feedback is all the more precious! I am aware that folks are often motivated to do feedback on negative aspects of their trip too (the Trip Advisor or Yelp reviewer more likely criticizes restaurant, than gloats about it). Of course I have received negative feedback and that while it hits you where it hurts, it also helps you improve, and cut out the bad weeds as you go along. Great feedback leads to more request for our company, and that is very welcome.
We can’t visit everywhere and on occasion a new guide comes onto my radar (often referred by another) without meeting up in person, this is just the way it happens. Slowly by slowly we send them more work, and they prove with each positive comment or feedback that they are exceeding what has been asked of them. We then meet up at our office or in the field. And this is where it changes into a really nice reciprocal relationship. Each contact in France starts with ‘vous’ and as soon as the relationship evolves, the more familiar ‘tu’ is used. This is really pleasant and makes work seem like pleasure. We want work to be sustainable and a win-win, so we don’t fight down reasonable quotes from guides.
Check out our interview with one of our greatest guide in Provence if you are interested in seeing more.
Some of our travelers come to me with an occasion, or a bucket list event and over one or two phone calls they share that with me. To make ‘it’ happen feels really good. I remember booking a French-speaking marriage celebrant in London for a couple from Quebec, and the surprise renewal of vows was a real success. Exceeding expectations for a wedding anniversary or creating a healing and wellness holiday for folks who really need a break, is really a joy.
FAM trip is industry jargon meaning familiarization trip. In French we often call them Educ-tours (Educational Tour) as well. So of course these are nice day (or multi-day) tours that take in the highlights or each region, all paid for by someone else. And might I say we get to see some really superb places, and experience unique experiences. I don’t usually stay in 5-star hotels when I travel around France, but being able to verify these top places before sending guest’s there is really important. The quality of hotels, tastings and guides can only be seen first-hand. My next FAM trip is into Provence, and the theme is Cycling in Provence (watch this space for a blog late September). I can’t wait. The finance for this and many other FAM trips comes from the local government. A way for that region to fight for travelers over another region if you will.
As a native English speaker living ‘abroad’, I sometimes do crave a good chat, and to my good fortune I have many of our potential leads who love the same thing. This job allows me to spend lots of time on the phone trying to understand who my travelers are, what they want, and then suggesting some basic, or off-the-wall ideas. The first phone call can lead to a second, third or fourth before the trip, and then certainly one or two during the in-country experience. I always meet my travelers when they come to Lyon, and if possible we eat together. In this way I naturally build a relationship with them and if the feedback is great (see above) the travelers often choose to come back and explore elsewhere in France! Even if there is a two-year break in between each trip the memories of each other are fresh.
Yes people could say my job is in sales; yet I would never consider working elsewhere than the travel industry. While sales of nuts and bolts, and car exhaust systems, might appeal to those who work solely focused on end of year performance bonuses, it must be hard to motivate yourself before each phone call, or skype chat. I can say with complete confidence that I do not have that difficulty. My travelers are great people, who just want another rich life experience, and I love being able to dream something up that perfectly fits their desire.
If you are interested in checking some of the itinerary I created, I suggest you to check this France & Spain 15-day Romantic Getaway: Bordeaux to Bilbao.
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