Cover Stars: Your Co-op Travel’s Ravina Kaur marvels at Montenegro’s unspoiled beauty

The Midcounties agent steps out of her comfort zone for ‘amazing’ photoshoot. Andrew McQuarrie reports

Q. Why did you enter the Cover Stars competition?
A. It was a great opportunity to meet new people. It’s a career highlight to be in the magazine – it’s something your parents can be proud of as well.

Q. What was your reaction to being selected?
A. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. I was just so over the moon that I wanted to scream and shout about it and tell everyone. It was an incredible feeling being picked – a really special moment – because so many people had applied. I come from a small town, Bilston, in the West Midlands, and it felt like I was putting Bilston on the map.

I’ve worked in travel for 14 years and I’d never been in an airport lounge, so that was a really good and useful experience

Pictured: Ravina with fellow Cover Stars Luke Nicol and Sarah Nowell-Stuart

Q. What was the Jet2holidays VIP treatment like?
A. It was great. I’ve worked in travel for 14 years and I’d never been in an airport lounge, so that was a really good and useful experience. It was a nice start to the day because a lot of us had been up early and travelled quite far, so it was lovely to have breakfast included and meet everyone else. It was nice getting  to know each individual and learn why they had applied and hear about their stories. And then there were all the trips we went on in Montenegro when we did things we never thought we would do.

Q. What was your highlight?
A. Budva is a beautiful, very unspoiled place. It’s absolutely stunning. A lot of the old Montenegro culture is there as well, so it’s really pretty with the old buildings and the architecture. It’s great for couples and families who want to explore.

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A lot of the old Montenegro culture is [in Budva] as well, so it’s really pretty with the old buildings and the architecture

Q. What were your fellow Cover Stars like?
A. They were all incredible. We all got along so well. Even now, we’re still in touch. These people are so intelligent, strong-minded and well-travelled. They’re just lovely. There were a few Cover Stars who had just started in travel, so it was nice to hear things from their side as well because they’re the new generation of the industry and they’re bringing their spark into it.

Q. Where was your photoshoot?
A. Everyone had their picture taken in different locations, so we got to see different parts of Montenegro. Mine was at The Chedi Luštica Bay hotel. I was the last person to have my picture taken and I was so nervous. You’re thinking, ‘Oh my God, I want to look nice – these pictures are going to be here forever’. And the magazine is something we’ll keep for the rest of our lives.

I’m quite a curvy girl, so I would never normally put myself in the position of having full-length pictures taken, but I’m so glad I did step out of my comfort zone

Q. How was the experience?
A. It was great, but my lips kept quivering. Steve [Dunlop], the photographer, was like, ‘Be normal, be you, be cute, you have a nice smile’. It was great to have that support, as well as from a few of the other Cover Stars. It was amazing. I’m quite a curvy girl, so I would never normally put myself in the position of having full-length pictures taken, but I’m so glad I did step out of my comfort zone. I’m really proud of myself. It was such an amazing experience.

Q. How will the trip help you to sell Montenegro packages with Jet2holidays?
A. Whenever you go anywhere in the world, it helps so much because you can talk about your own experiences and you have an insight into what the trip would look like. People are increasingly looking for good value for money as well as the experience that comes with it. If you have been somewhere, it helps so much because you can walk the customer through the journey.

You read about the Globes in the magazine, but to actually sit there and be part of it is a whole different feeling

Q. You attended Travel Weekly’s Globe Travel Awards with the other Cover Stars. How was it?
A. It was incredible. You get to see how the other half live. I can’t even put into words how amazing the event was and to be a part of it and support all the travel suppliers. They deserve to be rewarded because they do such a great job. Jet2holidays were absolutely fantastic. They treated us really well and that was a nice part of the experience. When I got back to work, I was shouting about it. You read about the Globes in the magazine, but to actually sit there and be part of it is a whole different feeling.

Pictured: Bethany Leach with Ravina

Ravina’s travel career

My parents owned a few different businesses. My dad bought my brother and me a shop of our own –bless him – but he gave us the option to work with him or to do something on our own.

I had always known I wanted my own path and wanted to be my own person, and my parents were very supportive. So I went to the City of Wolverhampton College for the NVQ Level 2 course in travel and tourism. At the end of our course, we were all granted interviews and, back then, there were only three spots for the Co op, and I got one of them.

Pictured: Ravina with fellow Cover Star Luke

I went to the City of Wolverhampton College for the NVQ Level 2 course in travel and tourism

I started off in the call centre and then my former manager needed help in the Wednesbury branch where I used to do my work experience in the summer holidays. Then an interview came up for the branch I’m in now in Bilston and I got the job and am now senior travel consultant.