Recently updated on October 6th, 2022 at 03:18 pm
Trafalgar’s Travel Directors are the heartbeat of our brand and play a key role in providing each of our guests with a truly memorable experience. They are well-travelled and share their deep local knowledge so that you can become fully immersed in each destination that you visit. We spoke to Lucian Reed-Drake, a Multi-Regional Travel Director for Europe to find out why he loves his job so much.
How did you become a Travel Director?
“It has always been a dream of mine to explore the world. After I graduated from university I worked in journalism but felt there was more to life than sitting behind a computer screen. I decided to send hundreds of CVs to various cruise lines and eventually got a job as an entertainer and language teacher.
It was a great experience but it was difficult living on a boat for up to six months at a time. I returned home and quickly secured a job as a journalist for a travel magazine. I was promoted to Publishing Manager and sold an advert to Contiki; it was then that I discovered they were recruiting for Trip Managers, so I applied and was accepted onto their training scheme.”
Why do you choose to work with Trafalgar?
“After working for Contiki for five years I progressed through The Travel Corporation to one of its sister brands, Trafalgar. IÂ wanted to further my career in the industry and work for one of the most respected travel companies in Europe. The best part about being at Trafalgar is that you are constantly learning new experiences every day.”
What is your greatest personal or professional achievement to date?Â
“I set myself a personal goal to visit 100 countries before I reached my 30th birthday and I managed to achieve this four months shy of my 31st birthday! I have travelled to all seven continents, including Antarctica.
My greatest professional achievement is being selected as a Travel Director to manage a trip for Australia’s leading travel agents to experience Trafalgar’s itineraries.”
What is your favourite place to travel to and why?
“My top destination would be to explore Latin America and attempt to converse in Spanish and learn to salsa dance.”
What is your favourite quote to live by?
‘”The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page’ – St. Augustine”
Words by Mary Isokariari