Midweek Interview with Trafalgar’s Andy Matthews

We asked Trafalgar Contact Centre Sales Manager Andy Matthews if he’d like to come over for tea and freshly baked biscuits for this interview, sadly he declined. We’re not taking it to heart.

The challenge for the industry is…

How well travelled everyone is these days. Travel brands have to constantly innovate to stay relevant and offer new products as our guests continue to crave new and exciting experiences which immerse them into all facets of local life, and that’s exactly what Trafalgar has done with their Be My Guest experiences and local connections.

In order to get a taste of The Good Life, our guests can visit the historic Villa Machiavelli in Tuscany, for an exclusive Be My Guest experience with renowned Chef Libero Saraceni – Libero takes guests through a local Florence market to to pick the freshest produce of the day, before a hands-on cooking class where they learn to make mouth-watering pasta dishes and enjoy the fruits of their labour, now that’s an authentic travel tale.

The things I like about my job…

I am very much a people person and love working with such a varied and passionate team on a daily basis. And who doesn’t love travel?

And the frustrations are …

When I’m unable to join our guests on each trip, made even worse seeing the constant flow of great reviews from them which really rubs it in.

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

Definitely in sales somewhere.

Favourite airline?

It has to be Singapore Airlines. My experiences have always been nothing but amazing.

My proudest moment was…

Marrying my wife.

The naughtiest thing I ever did was…

Deciding hitchhiking from Berlin to Krakow was a sensible way to see the sights.

I try to relax by…

Great food and wine with my wife and dog.

The last time I feared for my life was…

At LAX, overhearing the security guards arguing with a passenger that he couldn’t take his ammunition on-board with him in his backpack, and then later seeing him walk right onto my plane.

If I can, I always try to avoid…

Being late and queues.

I really wish I had…

A private plane to avoid crowds at the airport

The best advice I’ve ever received was…

Always say yes to every opportunity that presents itself as you never know when you will get another.

I don’t understand why people…

Don’t travel.

My greatest weakness is…

Food.

And my greatest strength is…

My ability to stay calm in times of crisis.

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

Payback my parents, I am sure I owe them at least $1m.

If I was prime minister I would…

Saved time and money on the plebiscite and just passed same-sex marriage.

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

Not a person but my dog, Duke. I would love to know what he actually gets up to during the day when left to his own devices.

I’ve always wanted to travel to…

Canada, is still on my list! There’s something so incredibly special about dining on a family-owned ranch at the foothill of the Canadian Rockies, a Trafalgar experience that tempts me every day to make Canada hit the top of my 2018 travel list.

My favourite holiday was…

Experiencing the sights and sounds of the deep south, USA. The food, culture and people were everything and more than expected. I would recommend travelling at a time of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival, celebrating the music and culture of the South. Our Tastes and Sounds of the South trip offers tickets to the festival, making it easier for guests to simple enjoy.

Would you like to take part in our Midweek Interivew? Get in touch with Travel Weekly Editor Daisy Doctor here to get the ball rolling.