Midweek Interview: Insight Vacations’ Sam Rutledge

Midweek Interview: Insight Vacations’ Sam Rutledge

This week we grabbed Sam Rutledge, Sales Manager at Insight Vacations. Though that’s not to say we physically manhandled him or anything.

The challenge for the industry is…

With so many more travellers these days, it is essential we protect the culture and environments that we visit. In association with The TreadRight Foundation, Insight Vacations ensures we support cultural traditions, environments and communities for generations to come.

The things I like about my job…

The people who work in the travel industry! Everyone has such a sense of adventure and curiousity – when you get a room full of trade partner and agents, there is always a buzz of excitement in their storytelling. Whether it’s a recent famil, somewhere they’ve visited recently or even better, a story about a happy Insight customer!

And the frustrations are…

When you talk about how amazing our Insight trips are all day, my FOMO hits into high gear!

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

I would love to open a traditional Southern BBQ restaurant. Having been a Travel Director on Luxury Gold’s Southern Grace itinerary from Nashville to Orleans, I definitely know my way around the best BBQ joints. Seeing our guests take their first bite of the delicious meat, you know the 14 hours of cooking are worth it!

Favourite airline?

All of the airlines I travel with regularly are great, but the quality customer service that Virgin offers makes squeezing my 6’4” frame into those seats a bit easier thats for sure!

My proudest moment was…

It’s a bit cheesy, but the moment I managed to get my wife to agree to marry me. We were in Paris, her favourite city, and I got on one knee on the platform of Palais Chiollot. Just as I did, the clock turned 11pm and the lights of the tower began to sparkle. It was pretty magical.

The naughtiest thing I ever did was…

There might be a story from my younger years…

I try to relax by…

Drinking a cold beer and smoking some BBQ meat, of course.

The last time I feared for my life was…

When I went skydiving in Queenstown. I was so nervous getting on that plane but it turned out to be one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had.

If I can, I always try to avoid…

The Monash Freeway.

I really wish I had…

More days in the week.

The best advice I’ve ever received was…

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

I don’t understand why people…

Are hesitant to travel.

My greatest weakness is…

That I’m stubborn.

And my greatest strength is…

My ability to keep calm and level headed in a stressful situation. This no doubt comes from my days as a Travel Director.

If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would…

I would love to invest in property, however my wife is a lover of horses. So most likely we would compromise and buy a $1 million horse.

If I was prime minister I would…

Give a larger tax credit to small businesses that utillised Australian made goods. They should be incentivised to source locally, instead of importing cheaper product from Asia.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be a… 

F1 Test pilot.

I’ve always wanted to travel to…

Machu Picchu is on my bucket list for sure.

My favourite holiday was…

Insight Vacations “Best of Italy” trip. The food, the people, the history and culture. Take me back please!

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