Your Stories: Online Travel Training’s Legend of the Year Award winner Molly Ritchie

The group and events consultant at Clarity Business Travel talks to Juliet Dennis about winning the Online Travel Training’s Legend of the Year Award just 12 months after becoming a corporate travel agent

Q. What sparked your interest in a travel career?
After I’d done my Scottish Highers I went to college to do a two-year HND course in Travel and Tourism at the City of Glasgow College in 2019. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, just that I wanted to work in the tourism industry as my first part-time job was at a hotel. When I did my course, there were sections on marketing, cabin crew, leisure and business travel agents. I learnt how amazing the travel industry is and I really enjoyed both of the agency courses – that sparked my interest in becoming a travel consultant.

Q. What job did you do after college?
I stayed on at the hotel where I’d worked part-time since I was 15 for about a year. It is a small family-run hotel called the Elphinstone Hotel in Biggar, south Lanarkshire, where I grew up. When I first started I worked in the kitchens and cleaned the rooms, then I moved to the restaurant. I still work there at weekends and help with managing the team and training.

I have done every job there now so I do whatever is needed. A year after college I took a job at Barrhead Travel as a trainee agent in the Livingston branch. I enjoyed it but after a few months I was offered a job at Clarity Travel. Instead of the travel consultant job I applied for, they put me forward for the role I’m in now. I had never really thought about working on the groups and events side of the business but I’d never go back now.

Q. What does your job involve?
We have lots of company clients that we are in touch with on email and on the phone on a day-to-day basis. They tell us the area and date of their event and we search for meeting rooms and event spaces, get quotes for delegate rates and room rates at hotels, and put together quotes and then book it for them.

Most of what I do now is domestic bookings. It’s so nice when the clients come back to you afterwards [to book again]; they are more like colleagues. I really enjoy the job. I have also met suppliers and learnt so much. My experience in the job has been nothing short of amazing. I have been given opportunities and gained more knowledge and skills than I ever thought I would in a year.

Q. Tell us about the Online Travel Training courses you have done.
When I started my job in April last year my manager told me about the OTT courses and I started to do them whenever I had time. I did a lot over Christmas when it was a bit quieter. By April this year I’d done 206 courses. Some take five minutes, some 20, and they range from accommodation to attractions, aviation, LGBTQ+ and accessible travel, and different travel skills; they cover so many different sections of the industry. For example, I didn’t know much about sustainability so when clients asked me questions it really helped to have done the sustainability course. It’s definitely given me an advantage and I’m still doing them; they are so helpful. The OTT training has been a great contribution to my career so far and will help me with my goals in the future.

Q. What was it like winning at the OTT Pop Awards?
Julia Feuell [managing director, OTT] rang and congratulated me on doing so many courses and told me I had been shortlisted for one of the OTT ‘Gurus’ awards. I travelled to London for the event and won the OTT Legend award for completing the most courses, which was amazing. There were so many people there telling their different stories about what they had done. I didn’t know anyone but I met so many people that day from other companies, some of which I’d never heard of. I contacted someone I met at the awards the other day as they worked for a hotel based in Dubai; they helped me to find the right person for a group booking. I can see the benefit of these types of events!

What does it mean for your career to win this award?

Winning this award has motivated me to do more training. My employer was so happy I won. Work funded me to go down to London for the award ceremony and they have been very supportive. My mum and dad couldn’t believe it either, they were really happy and excited for me. It’s important to keep doing training because you learn so many new things that you might otherwise not know and it keeps your knowledgeof the industry up to date.

You also never know when your work situation might change or what might happen and the training gives you confidence. Confidence is key. When I first started in my job I wasn’t always confident, but going to these awards and coming out of my comfort zone has really helped. I can feel such a difference. Now I will keep on developing my skills and knowledge. The OTT training has provided me with a better understanding of the industry, which has not only made my work easier, but helped me provide clients with knowledge and build relationships and trust with them. My goal is to keep moving up the career ladder and see how far I can get.

Find more at onlinetraveltraining.com/uk