35 years: celebrating a lifetime of memories

You’ve recently celebrated 35 years as a GTO, how does that feel?

Thinking about it is amazing, It’s actually been my life. I started in 1991 whilst I had a Ballgown & Cocktail Dress hire shop. I was going to lots of different places and London theatres and my clients wanted to come along. I decided to book a coach and take everyone. We saw two big London shows and it just grew from there.

The following year Euro Disney opened, so I organised a coach trip to Paris and we had such a ball, I wanted to arrange more trips. As it happens, the lease was due to end on my shop and it was the ideal time to end an era and start another. Solent Events & Leisure started as a part-time venture, but just grew and grew over the years and I’ve loved every minute of it.

I still arrange theatre trips, away days/mystery tours, short breaks, cruises plus long-haul holidays & adventures. I have recently introduced the popular ‘immersive theatre’ experiences like 58th Street and have reserved places for Le Chat Noir and The Great Christmas Feast - they’re a bit different – very nostalgic and great fun, dressing up in the ‘era’ depicted.

Can you share some of your most memorable moments?

There are thousands! A lifetime of memories. I’ve published an A-Z list of all the countries I’ve been to and just looking at it gives me butterflies. So many memories come flooding back like the brown bears swimming towards us in Glacier Bay, Alaska, the orangutans surprising us in Borneo and the spectacular lakes and mountains of Austria and Italy, where we love visiting every year.

Sweden by train also comes to mind. Walking up a mountain at 10.30pm to watch the midnight sun was just incredible. The Galapagos Islands - walking through iguanas, blue foot boobies and seals - was amazing. A balloon ride at sunrise over the volcanic rock formations and caves of Cappadocia. Iceland – we went to see waterfalls, mountains and glaciers; en route driving into a lake which wasn’t there because of the famous volcano ‘ash’ eruption! 30 of us hired three jeeps, with me looking at the sat nav of one, and seeing that we were actually driving on the dry bed of a lake.

I’ve met so many lovely, inspiring people over the years at travel shows and during my trips and tours – Simon Reeve at the Group Leisure & Travel Show who I spoke with about the highlights of Japan, from where I’d just returned and he was just going.

At other GLT shows, meeting Simon Calder and Jenny Bond were lovely moments too. On my travels I’ve met George Clooney and his wife Amal; Olga Polizzi (from TV’s Nightmare Hotel) actress Celia Imrie, Britain’s Got Talent musical opera band Collabro, the original cast of Calendar Girls and the Top Gear team.

Many of us with the ‘travel bug’ are now at the age when we’re saying “it’s now or never - whilst we still can and whilst it’s still possible”.

What do you put the success down to?

Hopefully the people returning realise my events are well-organised and good value. The coach is always on time, with friendly professional drivers and they can relax without having to think about anything. I’m always there to escort and manage the trip.

Communication is key. I’m not inundated with questions because I ensure they have all the information needed before and during the trip. To give 100% commitment, I only go to places I personally want to go to and I’m very conscious of exactly how I would like to experience the trip myself as a customer.

How has your perspective changed with a lifetime of travel?

My psyche has changed completely since I was an eager traveller in my late teens. Travelling to so many different countries, seeing their cultures and meeting with people that are so diverse has enabled me to understand how the world comes together, but is still so much apart in many ways.

I know many people who have never travelled abroad, but travelling outside the UK, even just to Europe, is such an eye-opener. One of the big surprises, for me and my clients, was Romania. We absolutely loved it, but it was completely different to what we imagined – post-communism bleakness, countryside horse & carts and eerie castles.

Bucharest was beautiful, demonstrating how the Romanians take such pride in their buildings, streets and shops.

Have different places been popular over the years?

Italy has always been popular with my clients as well as other spectacular countries with lakes, mountains and islands. Long-haul holidays normally sell quickly, with places like India, Borneo and Sri Lanka going within a couple of days. I still get pleasantly surprised when places sell out so fast.

What advice would you give to a GTO starting out?

The more you put into it the more pleasure you will get out of it and the more hassle-free, fun times your clients will have. For me, it was never a part-time or normal job as I work every day if I need to. Passion and preparation are a must, along with good customer service and clear communication. 

Time is of the essence, so polite but firm discipline is also required. Some people have said I’m bossy, but my regulars say, “she’s not bossy, she’s just organised and efficient.”

You need to think about the comfort and concerns of your group at all times, making sure everyone is informed of situations and perhaps having treats, water or sweets on hand to take their minds off sitting in an unavoidable long traffic jam, for instance. You should aim for everything to go smoothly from start to finish, ensuring everyone goes home happy knowing they have received and enjoyed what you had offered and what they had paid for.

To give 100% commitment, I only go to places I personally want to go to and I’m very conscious of exactly how I would like to experience the trip myself as a customer.

Are you slowing down now after 35 years?

Yes, slowing down - not retiring. I’m not doing as many what I call ‘ordinary’ day trips but looking at more ‘exclusive experiences and holidays’ for a smaller, more intimate group.For instance I have an Orient Express Murder Mystery with Luxury Lunch coming up.

Everyone realises I’m winding down a bit, but know I won’t be retiring!

Looking ahead, what big trips have you got coming up?

Costa Rica in November and Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach in October 2027 through Wendy Wu, plus a real ‘biggie’ for March 2028, a 27-day Antarctica cruise on The Fram Expedition ship, with zodiacs taking us to the ice.

I also have 16 clients joining me on a 14-night Caribbean Islands cruise for some winter sun in January but one place I’ve always wanted to go to is New Zealand and so have managed to organise a trip with one other client for 28-days in February. We’re going to Singapore for three nights then onto Auckland to begin an exciting trekking tour in North & South Island, with a final five nights relaxing in Bali. 

Many of us with the ‘travel bug’ are now at the age when we’re saying “it’s now or never - whilst we still can and whilst it’s still possible”.