I started my career at Pentravel in April of 2006. I had no travel industry experience besides having lived and travelled around the States in 2004. My first week of training was learning a ticketing / reservations system that all seemed like a foreign language to me – I asked myself many times – what are you doing?

After 2 weeks of training I was ready to start! It was a tough few months getting used to how things work, the different classes and airlines, fares, hotels, car hire, cruises and the list goes on. But the more I worked the more I learnt and pretty soon I was earning commission and really liking my career as a travel agent.

After 18 months of being a consultant, I applied for a management position to our new Killarney branch and got the job. I managed Killarney for 4 months and had a great team. It was something very challenging for me, leading 3 other consultants, motivating and supporting them and making sure the office ran smoothly. After the 4 months I moved back to my original branch, Fourways, as the manager.

It was an amazing feeling. I was now the shop manager where I started just 2 years before as an inexperienced consultant! I felt very blessed and fortunate.

It has been a tough road at our branch since then. The consultants facing a new manager, staff turn over and the beginning of the recession. Through all the ups and downs I made it and now in January 2010 and can proudly say that Pentravel Fourways is back on the map.

After our many struggles and challenges we are flying high! I have a happy and motivated team, fully staffed and ready to go!

When I look back I only realize how far I have come over the years and can really see how much I have grown personally and professionally. Pentravel took a chance on me and I will always be grateful for that and I was able to rise to the occasion!

The last 4 years have flown by and I have had an amazing journey.

Since joining Pentravel I have been to the following places – Mauritius, Zanzibar, Vic Falls, London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Monaco and the Swiss Alps. The ups definitely outweigh the downs. I have an awesome support structure, great colleagues and amazing resources – how can I not succeed? I am so excited and looking forward to what the future holds for me at Pentravel.