Personal Travel Manager Maria Pandalai
6.00am: Rise and shine + Parental duties
Alarm, what alarm? My 2 year old son, Krishnan and 4 year old daughter, Maya, are my alarms. After waking up with a strong coffee, my husband and I get our children ready for kindy.
8.00am: Exercise to clear the mind
Exercise is vital for my wellbeing and keeping fit. Going for a morning run or hitting the gym allows me to mentally prepare for my work day ahead and clears my mind for the challenges that may be faced during the day.
9.00am: Commence work
I normally start my work day by responding to overnight emails. I follow up travel proposals that I have provided to clients. I allocate time for marketing initiatives. And then I get stuck into it! Multi-tasking by working on various bookings, answering phone calls and responding to emails is how it normally goes.
Working as a Personal Travel Manager for TravelManagers Australia means I’m self-employed and operating my own business from home, with the support of Australia’s largest home-based and most experienced travel network behind me. This works really well with balancing my work and family life.
11.00am: Appointment with a client at a café
As a mobile travel consultant, I have the flexibility to meet my clients at a time and place that suits them. My clients really enjoy and appreciate this style of consultation as it means they have my undivided attention without any interruption, in an environment they feel comfortable with. The first consultation with a client normally means getting to know them. Exploring what their wants, needs and interests are, allows me to determine the best holiday suited to them. I am able to do this with my 20 years’ travel industry experience and having travelled extensively for 20 years.
It’s important to also explain that I offer an after-hours emergency assistance service, which gives my clients peace of mind before they depart and also during their holiday. If required, I meet with my clients again during the booking process and also correspond via email and phone. About a month prior to departure, I meet my clients again to provide their travel documents and explain their booking thoroughly to ensure they are happy and confident with their holiday particulars.
1.00pm: Quotes, bookings and mid-afternoon coffee hit
One minute I’m working on a Mediterranean cruise booking, and then the next, a tour of South America. The destinations and type of holidays I arrange are diverse and I enjoy this as it keeps things exciting and interesting. My services include aspects such as flight bookings, accommodation bookings, group tours, sightseeing, transfers, visas, cruises, car hire and more.
I often get asked what the role of a personal travel manager is. Think of a Personal Travel Manager the way you’d think of your personal trainer or financial planner. And whether my clients are travelling for business or for fun, I work closely to create a tailor-made trip that’s as individual as they are. In most scenarios I offer the same, if not, better than internet prices.
5.00pm: Dedicated family time
Spending time with my family is very precious to me. I often take my children out after kindy to the playground, for an ice-cream or to simply see their grandparents. Then it’s dinner, some activities, reading a book and bed time for my children.
8.00pm: Catch up
If I have work to catch up on from during the day, I will do so at night when it’s quiet. And then rest, relaxation and preparing for what the next day may propose. Every day is a new day as they say!
Maria Pandalai
Personal Travel Manager | Townsville
TravelManagers Australia
0407 122 120
maria.pandalai@travelmanagers.com.au
www.travelmanagers.com.au/MariaPandalai