You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS<br />
STYLE | promotion 77<br />
SARAH CROWE | House of Travel High Street Lanes<br />
Where did your journey to owner/operator of<br />
House of Travel High Street Lanes begin?<br />
Like many other first time travellers, I worked in bars in London<br />
and Europe to save enough money to travel - six months in<br />
Africa, and another six months exploring Europe. En route<br />
home I travelled via Central and South America, and then<br />
started my career in travel. I’ve never looked back.<br />
Which achievements are you most proud of?<br />
Winning a Top Consultant award in 2016, as being awarded<br />
with this takes a massive amount of hard work. In the same year<br />
I also made the exciting move into High Street Lanes to take<br />
advantage of the new opportunities I believed the growing city<br />
would bring. It was a big year of change, so it was both a very<br />
rewarding and exciting surprise.<br />
What do you feel is the crux of your success?<br />
There is no doubt that travelling to so many countries, and in<br />
different styles, is always going to be helpful in getting holidays<br />
right for my clients. I’ve backpacked, I’ve travelled as part of<br />
group tours, I’ve travelled independently in foreign speaking<br />
countries, I’ve done a huge amount of adventure travel, I love<br />
beachy flop and drops, I’ve cruised, I’ve travelled with both<br />
young and older children, I’ve slept in airports, aircraft, buses,<br />
under the stars, in tents, in luxury 5 star hotels, eco resorts<br />
and beautiful villas. I understand everyone has different needs.<br />
Coming from a Southland dairy farming background means I’m<br />
a very hard worker – I work all hours of the night, and I love<br />
getting my clients a bargain regardless of how much they spend.<br />
I’m also very down to earth and I really do care.<br />
Have there been challenges along the way?<br />
Challenges! Yes, there is no doubt that there are all sorts of<br />
overseas websites wanting a piece of the travel pie. Demand<br />
for agents certainly hasn’t diminished, especially the good<br />
ones. People just don’t have time to trawl through internet<br />
websites when they know we can do it all for them. We aren’t<br />
necessarily more expensive either. In fact, only recently my<br />
knowledge saved my clients $2000 each on their Business Class<br />
airfares. Why wouldn’t you support our local business when<br />
we have so much knowledge of leisure and corporate travel,<br />
including how to make your frequent flyer points work for you,<br />
we are competitive and if a travel disaster hits, we’re at the end<br />
of a phone call.<br />
255 St Asaph St • 03 335 3722<br />
sarah@hot.co.nz<br />
Follow our journeys! Like us on facebook<br />
facebook.com/HOTHighStLanes/<br />
What are your goals for <strong>2018</strong>?<br />
I have a really experienced team with excellent knowledge in<br />
adventure itineraries, cruising, and creating boutique itineraries<br />
for worldwide trips, so I’m looking forward to making more of<br />
a presence in this arena. For me, I’ve ticked off the Melbourne<br />
Tennis Open last month. Bucket list for everyone! I’ve got<br />
Hawai’i coming up and then later in the year I’m off on an<br />
LA Disney trip with my husband, Carl, and our kids. Mickey<br />
Mouse – here we come.
Change language