Your Stories: Travelosophers’ Gareth Harding looks back at his career in travel

The winner of the Clia Cruise Master Award at this year’s Agent Achievement Awards speaks to Ella Sagar

Q. How did you start in the travel industry?
When I finished school I decided I wanted to do A-levels, but after nine months I realised it wasn’t for me. Then I was walking down the high street one day and I saw an advert for a modern apprenticeship at Thomas Cook. That’s how it all started. I initially worked in Leigh before moving to the bigger store in Bolton. Then a secondment came up in Jersey and after that I was sent to Crawley, Hove and then Bromley. I did fast-track training to become a regional manager when Going Places merged with Thomas Cook. There were 46 of us and only 20 jobs, so I decided to leave on a high.

Q. Why did you start specialising in cruise?
I took on the role of cruise coordinator when I was 21 in Thomas Cook’s flagship store in the southeast, in Bromley. I looked after the whole south coast, which was a big learning curve. After leaving Thomas Cook, I was headhunted by The Cruise Line in Hurstpierpoint and I worked there for five years as their sales director. I was really lucky as I got to travel a lot and escort groups on all the major cruise lines. Then I decided I wanted to go and work abroad. I went to work for Saga Holidays as a tour manager, then a rep and, finally, river cruise director. I have lived in Madeira, Malta, the Rhine and Mozelle, and then Gran Canaria for three years.

Q. Why did you join Travelosophers?
I’ve been back in England for just over four years now, in Eastbourne, and I’ve been working with Travelosophers for two. I always wanted to work for myself eventually and now I’m doing it. I was the 12th agent to join and there are more than 50 of us now. I considered all the different homeworking companies and didn’t want to go to a franchise that was too big, because I didn’t want to just be a number.

Travelosophers appealed because it is family-owned by Cyplon Holidays and I knew Nisha Bean [head of sales] from my days at Thomas Cook, 20-odd years ago. I like being left to my own devices, but still being part of something.

Q. What holidays are popular at the moment?
My customers are increasingly interested in river cruising because they like boutique hotel-style accommodation and just unpacking and being able to go right into the city centre. There’s a massive increase in solo travellers, as well as those who want to travel as part of a group with the same interests. I do yoga groups and food and wine groups. Since Covid, people want to travel further and do more than just lie on a beach.

They are looking for something different and for special and exclusive places. Customers plan further out for longer trips, so I’m doing long-haul trips now for up until the end of next year. Expedition cruising is up and coming, and because it is quite a high-value ticket, I will book that a lot further out. I’ve even got enquiries for 2026 now.

Q. What type of cruises do you sell the most?
I tend to specialise in selling smaller ships, anything from eight-berth yachts up to about 1,000 passengers. I’ve just come off a Variety Cruises sailing, which only had 40 people on board. It was lovely because you get to know everybody and visit lots of different places that are off the beaten track. Many tend to think of a cruise as a huge ship, and they’re getting bigger and bigger, but they offer good value for money if you’re a family or if you want to work on a budget.

Q. What did winning the Clia Cruise Master Award mean to you?
I was really proud to win. I was up against some really strong competition so to win was an incredible feeling. I’ve got a strong network within the cruise industry and I’ve done a lot of events and marketing activity with them. I also attend a lot of the Clia events.