What was your first job in travel?

It’s the winter of 1984. Thomson are advertising temporary positions for sales consultants in their Martineau Square call centre in Birmingham. I dismiss the opportunity as I don’t fit the age or experience requirements. My Mum decides on another course of action and applies on my behalf! Embarrassed but determined, I attend an interview and get the job. By the end of the 80′s I was running my own high street travel business.

What was the high point of your career?

Can I have three please! December 2002, the first month of sales for www.holidaysplease.co.uk We make GBP2,000 in commission after spending GBP500 on marketing and overheads….our idea works! June 2003, taking on Ruth our first Homeworker (who us still on our team!)….it feels like Holidaysplease has really arrived. April 2010, Holidaysplease is named Online Agent of the Year at the Agent Achievement Awards.

What was the low point?

There are obvious ones like 9/11 and the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, which really tested the resources of a young Holidaysplease. However I guess the lowest and most painful point for me personally was being ripped off for a few grand early in my business career. It was a tough way to learn that if something appears too good to be true it probably is!

Who or what has been the greatest influence on your career?

Easy! Barbara Collins in her time as training director for Worldchoice. In 2002, I was lucky enough to be one of three agents chosen as guinea pigs for her Partnership in Profit Training Programme. The whole experience was just a massive light bulb moment for me and totally changed my approach to running a business. Barbara deserved every one of the awards she won over the next few years for the training programme.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

I’d really like to be doing what Barbara did for me by passing on the experience I have gained being involved in growing a highly successful, modern travel business to the next generation of budding travel entrepreneurs.

What would you be doing now if you weren’t in travel?

I’d be a pro-runner on the veteran endurance circuit! Over the last 5 years I’ve really got into running and now run for a local club in the Birmingham and District League. Running gives me my release and buys me time to think. I’m currently training for the London Marathon in April and aim to run under 3 hours.

The surprise attack on the U.S naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by Imperial Japan on the morning of Sunday December 7, 1941, forced the United States into World War II and ultimately turned the tide of the War.

Pearl Harbor is located on the Island of Oahu in the suburbs of Honolulu (the capital of Hawaii), a short distance west of Honolulu International Airport.

Two Japanese attacks in fact sunk or crippled 18 American ships and 188 American aircraft were destroyed. U.S military installations also came under attack.

2,403 Americans were killed, including 1,177 USS Arizona personnel. In comparison, Japanese casualties were approximately 160 men, 29 aircraft and 6 submarines.

Today, a little more than 70 years after the attack, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is one of the top Hawaiian holiday attractions welcoming well over 1,500,000 visitors each year.

For many, these historic sites form an important part of any individuals experience on their Hawaii holidays.

A visit to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Centre includes an interpretive programme in the company of a National Park Service Ranger, the opportunity to view documentaries about the attack(s), and a boat trip to the Memorial dedicated to the crew of the USS Arizona – their final resting place.

Visitors can also enjoy the USS Arizona Memorial Museum and the waterfront promenade. The landscaped area to the rear of the Visitor Centre features waterfront exhibits and a fantastic view of Ford Island which was the focal point of the Japanese attack.

Visitor Centre facilities also include an area for snacking, a central courtyard, restrooms and administrative areas.

Ultimately, a visit to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial is a solemn experience, even for visitors not alive when the events took place. When you visit the gleaming white, 184-foot long concrete structure which spans the sunken Arizona you are quite literally standing over a grave site where 1,177 men lost their lives.

Since the dedication of the USS Arizona Memorial in 1962, further additions to the historic importance of the area have been made with the Battleship Missouri Memorial in 1999 and the opening of the Pacific Aviation Museum in 2006.

A designated National Historic Landmark, a visit to Pearl Harbor offers holidaymakers in Hawaii a chance to see where history was made, this makes their Hawaii holidays experience something to remember .

Scientist, Trevor Goward curator of lichens at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, discovered new lichens deep in the British Columbia rainforests. As a way of generating funds for the Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) and The Land Conservancy (TLC) both based in Victoria, British Columbia, Goward decided to auction off the naming rights for the lichens he had discovered.

Lichen (pronounced li’ken) is described as a dual organism consisting of a fungus and an alga which lives on rocks, tree branches, or bare ground.

According to scientific protocol, the person who discovers a new species has the rights to give it its scientific name. However not all of us are lucky enough to discover them so Mr Goward chose to auction off the naming rights in order to raise money. Goward said “Having your name linked to a living species is a legacy that lasts…Putting my new species up for auction for this highly-deserving environmental organization allows me to give something back to my home province.”

Wildlife artist Anne Hansen bid $4,000 for the right to name one of Goward’s discovered species ‘kockiana’ in memory of her husband, University of Guelph horticulturist Henry Kock, who passed away in 2005. The highest bidder then wins the right to name the new lichen whatever they want, even President Barack Obama has a lichen named after him (Caloplaca obamae), if he can have one why can’t you!

This new lichen auctioning trend seems to the thing of the future with many of us wanting to preserve our name forever. It probably won’t even be long before a piece of lichen will be on everyone’s Christmas list! Goward said “I believe that future auctions of this kind will garner even more support as Canadians – and others – awaken to the honour of being linked, if only in name, to other species that share this planet with us”. So how much will you be prepared to bid to have your name preserved in scientific history forever?

Sales were 30% up year on year with the average value up 22%. Despite overall industry figures decreasing year on year, Holidaysplease continues to trade strongly despite current economic situations.

It seems holiday makers are favouring the value of expertise rather than low cost holidays in 2012 with many consumers being more careful as to which travel companies to trust. Perhaps this is another reason behind the success experienced by the ABTA approved luxury holiday company, Holidaysplease.

Richard Dixon, senior director of Holidaysplease, said “The fantastic growth in sales reflects general interest and our dedicated sales team have and will continue to respond to customer demands and trends individually. We are lucky to have a team consisting of real travel experts and we look forward to growing our team as well as our sales throughout 2012.”

The January boom has also helped to identify the top destinations for 2012. These include the likes of the Maldives, Mauritius, the USA, Antigua, Malaysia, as well as Thailand, UAE, Sri Lanka and even Mexico.

Hawaii holidays are the way forward this year with so many amazing resort and hotels to choose from. Whether you are looking for a romantic honeymoon, couples retreat or even a well-deserved family break, there is always something for everyone with a Hawaii holiday. With a variety of all-inclusive and half board resorts, you can relax knowing that you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect restaurant or bar.

There are so many things to do and see in Hawaii for travellers of all ages. Hawaii holidays boast endless beaches where you can enjoy a variety of thrilling and relaxing water sports. These include scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, water skiing, parasailing and so much more. Or for those looking for something to do away from the beach then how about exploring the amazing volcanoes, mountains and jungles? Or shop till you drop at the fantastic shopping malls where you will find all the latest trends at the best prices. Hawaii holidays offer so many activities to entertain even the most discerning traveller.

Perhaps the most difficult decision to be made when thinking about Hawaii holidays is which destination to visit. There are 8 beautiful islands that make up Hawaii, 6 of which are open to travellers. These include Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu and Hawaii (Big Island) itself. Make sure you wind down in the warm evenings at a traditional Luau where you can enjoy Hawaiian hula dancing to your heart’s content, the perfect end you dream Hawaii holiday.
Hawaii holidays would be incomplete without a visit to the Big Island, which is famous for its amazing Volcanoes National Park and 442 foot waterfall at the Akaka Falls State Park. The island itself certainly lives up to its name as it is the biggest island in Hawaii despite being the youngest. The diversity of the terrain means that there are 11 different climatic regions for you to experience.

Hawaii holidays also allow you complete flexibility in that you can combine a US, Caribbean or Mexico stopover in your trip. This type of multi-centre holiday lets you visit two destinations within your Hawaii holiday.

After celebrating last New Year’s in London, myself and a few friends decided we wanted to do something different for 2012. In the end we all agreed to celebrate Christmas in Cambodia and New Years in Vietnam. Hopefully this blog will help share some of our amazing experiences.

Lebua Hotel, Bangkok

Skybar, Lebua

Lebua Hotel, Bangkok – We kicked off our tour in Bangkok at the incredible Lebua Hotel. The first thing we all did was rush to the skybar, while the girls sipped cocktails and snapped skyline photos, the boys were busy rein acting scenes from hangover 2. The Lebua was definitely a luxurious stay and a perfect starter to our holiday. Later we ventured into the city and found ourselves at a ladyboy show. This was probably one of the most entertaining and fun experiences…especially when the star of the show was flirting with my friend Deepan, who was trying so hard to hide.

Thunder Ranch Shooting Range, Phom Phen

Thunder Ranch Shooting Range, Phom Phen  – The next stop was Phom Phen. We jumped in our tuk tuks (local taxis) and headed to Thunder Ranch, run by the Royal Cambodian Army. We all had a go at firing AK47s and M116s. I wasn’t expecting the jolt back and noise but it was a good experience, even if I did miss most of the targets. It was also the part of my trip my brother was most excited about, being an avid Call of Duty fan.

The Choeung Ek Memorial Stupa, housing 8000 of the skulls unearthed at the Killing Fields.

The Killing Fields, Phom Phen  – The Killing fields was a very moving and emotional experience. It was the one place we had to visit in order to fully appreciate and understand a very important part of Cambodian history. It was hard to believe that 3 million people lost their lives in the most horrific circumstances, under the communist Khmer Rouge regime, just a few years before we were born. We all did some prior reading, but nothing could have prepared us for the stories, photos and facts documented at the museum. Despite such tragic events we all felt that the people of Cambodia were extremely friendly, forgiving and brave.

Christmas Day, Siem Reap

Christmas Day, Siem Reap – Celebrating Christmas day in 30 degree heat was a bit surreal. Everywhere we went seemed to play Christmas carols and all the shops and restaurants were decorated in tinsel and fake snow. We thought we’d join in and wear santa hats to get in the Christmas spirit. We exchanged our usual turkey for crocodile, and after a big feast headed to a bar for some local beers and wines. The night ended on the dancefloor singing along to YMCA…as you do! It was just like being back at home. Outside the club was a line of children dancing and selling bracelets. Although we danced with the children and brought their bracelets, we couldn’t believe these kids were dancing out here at 3am, when they should have been in bed.

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap – After our all-nighter, we literally freshened up at the hotel and headed straight to Angkor Wat. Sleepy-eyed we sat on the banks and watched the sunrise. Despite the foggy weather it was an amazing view, everyone sat and admired the temple silhouette come to light. Later on we got a closer look at the inscriptions and impressive architecture.

Sheraton Hotel, Hanoi

NYE, Sheraton Hotel, Hanoi  – We had taken quite a few internal flights and long coach journeys so by this stage we were looking forward to relaxing at the Sheraton hotel in Hanoi. After a traditional Thai massage we were invited to a ballroom dance. As none of us could ballroom dance, we decided to join the Sheraton NYE party instead. After a lovely champagne reception, we joined the locals and hotel guests for an unforgettable countdown and night of entertainment.

Ta Phin Village, Sapa

Local Villagers

Ta Phin Village, Sapa  – The next adventure was an overnight train to Ta Phin village in Sapa, Northern Vietnam. On arrival we were greeted by our tour guide. The village itself was set within a valley layered with rice paddies, with towering mountains at one end. The people were from ethnic minorities known as Kinh, Red Dao and Black Hmong. The moment we stepped out of our van an army of kids barricaded us with trekking sticks. It was difficult to choose who to buy from but we did the obvious thing and brought from the youngest. The children all seemed to work hard and play hard. Two girls followed my side most of the walk and were very interested in life in the UK. The girl’s mother was happy they were practicing their English and told me that the village was very poor before tourists began to visit.  But now they get to sell their crafts, make money and meet new people.

Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, Bangkok

Wat Pho, Bangkok

Wat Pho, Bangkok – The very final destination was Wat Pho, aka the reclining Buddha Temple. The main focal point is the 46 metre gold plated buddha, which is pretty impressive from any angle. The temple is extremely busy, so you do have to walk through quite fast. The rest of the grounds feature an array of gardens, temples and statues. Throughout the whole of my holiday I had tried very hard to capture a photo of a monk but failed. This was my last chance, and it turned out to be the best photo from my entire collection. I was told by his senior that he very rarely smiles, so my thumbs up before the photo must have done the trick.

We had an amazing time on our travels and would definitely return in the future.

If you would like to experience Cambodia and Vietnam for yourself simply complete an enquiry form and our travel experts will be delighted to help.

However as most of us search high and low for the ultimate holiday, here’s something to really help lighten that January rush. This Southwest Airlines flight attendant really knows how to get the passengers attention when telling the on-board announcements. Let’s hope more of us experience this kind of customer service on our next flight, other airlines take note! Why not tell us what other quirky and funny things the flight attendant’s on your previous flights have done? Feel free to leave your comments below.

While the UK itself is still finding its way out of economic turmoil, holiday makers will favour value for money as opposed to the cheapest holidays in 2012. A demand in luxury and all-inclusive breaks look set to be popular as the mid-market is predicted to be squeezed. ABTA also reveal that cruising, adventure, exploration, learning and activity holidays will be top of the charts in the New Year as consumers look for new experiences highlighted by a need for value for money.

As several consumers set to reduce their household expenditures and many travel companies continue to fall into administration, this is likely to make holidaymakers more careful as to where they spend their money in 2012. Therefore bookings through traditional yet protected travel agents will increase with travellers seeking reputable and secure companies. As a result, tailored, specialist and authentic local experiences from food to entertainment will be in demand.

The over 55 market looks set to be stronger than ever with around 10% of the market taking over four foreign holidays in the last 12 months. More couples are also expected to tie the knot abroad in 2012 because of budget issues. According to ABTA, 20% of couples who say ‘I do’ overseas save a huge £12,500 compared to marrying in the UK.

And last but not least, it looks as though the favourite holiday destinations for 2012 are once again the ‘tried and tested’ ones. These include the US, Spain, Italy, Greece and France. However, Jordan, Columbia and Cape Verde are set to be hot up and coming spots as well as Poland/Ukraine where Euro 2012 will be hosted next summer.

So let’s see what the next 12 months hold for the travel market, here’s to a fantastic 2012. Happy New Year to you all!

If you’re a serious party animal then this is the trip for you! First join in the celebrations at Auckland’s Viaduct Basin where you will find live music, fireworks and a great range of events in various restaurants and nightclubs. Then having had plenty of time to nurse the hangover, head to the airport on 1^st January 2012 to board your 5.35pm flight to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

You will then arrive in Rarotonga on 31^st December 2012 at 10.30pm local time. The International Date Line allows you to go back one day which means more time to party! Celebrate with the friendly locals as you welcome in 2012 at one of the last places in the world to see in the New Year.

So do you fancy the double celebrations of a lifetime? Holidaysplease are offering you a chance to experience all this with return flights from London to Auckland and Rarotonga. From only £2,600 this great 6-day package also includes one night’s accommodation at the five-star Langham Hotel in Auckland and four-star Sunset Resort in Rarotonga. But you’d better hurry as flights depart from London to Auckland on 29^th December!

Have you ever wondered whether you’re still getting a good deal at airport duty free stores? We were interested to know whether duty free products really were cheaper online or on the high street so we decided to do some mystery shopping to find out. We investigated a selection of 15 electrical products from iPads to netbooks from Dixons and after some careful comparison we found that all the products were cheaper at the airport, with some products costing up to 20% less.

It’s often difficult to beat online retailers but our research just proves that when it comes to buying electrical items you could be in for a pleasant discount the next time you travel.