We chat with Andy Roberts, Sales Manager NSW and ACT at Insight Vacations
The challenge for the industry is… To remain relevant to customers. It’s important to make sure a customer knows why they are booking with you and not someone else.
The things I like about my job… Visiting agents. I’m definitely a people’s person and the friendlier people are to me, the more I give back to them.
And the frustrations are… Finding a parking space before Christmas.
If I didn’t work in travel I would be… A male model.. Oh, you mean not in my dreams? I wanted to be a doctor when I was a teenager. 10 more years of education put me off so I said, I want to see the world instead. That’s how I started in travel 25 years ago. I also could have made it as a soccer goalkeeper. Now that’s definitely a regret.
Favourite airline? The Middle Eastern carriers have always been supportive of me.
My proudest moment was… Being warmly welcomed back in NSW and ACT by many of the agents I had left seven years before when I moved to Victoria. Also the VIC agents were very welcoming when I arrived back in 2010.
The naughtiest thing I ever did was… Embezzle millions of dollars and place it in a secret location on Bondi Beach, a metal detector will find it.
I try to relax by… Watching movies and also socialising with friends.
The last time I feared for my life was… My last work appraisal…
If I can, I always try to avoid… Drop bears. I hear that they are deadly in Australia and account for 50% of back packers going missing.
I really wish I had… A Porsche 911. I love to drive and wish I could race on a circuit someday.
The best advice I’ve ever received was… From my first boss – If you ever want to be rich, don’t get a car or get married.
I don’t understand why people… Can’t love one another. We are all the same. We have hearts, brains, eyes, but people want to hate others sometimes. It’s sad.
My greatest weakness is: Spealing…
And my greatest strength is: Listening.
If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling) I would: Buy my mom and older brother a house each in the UK. It’s not like Sydney. You can get a mansion for 10 bucks over there. I’d make sure she was set for life, then invest. Money makes money!
If I was prime minister I would: Make sure MPs would only be allowed to run for 2 terms, so they do what’s right for the country, not what keeps them in the job.
If I could be someone else for one day I would be: The queen and knight Andy Roberts, so I’m accepted as a member of the British aristocracy!
I’ve always wanted to travel to: The moon.. I think if everyone could see the whole world in one vision we would realise that the lands that people fight for aren’t really that big compared to the universe.
My favourite holiday was: A recent tour of India with Insight Vacations. I’ve always wanted to travel to India and the Imperial Rajasthan really did it for me. (As you can see by the photo) It changed how I view the world and the people in it. The colours, the people, the food and the way of life. So special!
