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TravleMole Time Traveller: Star Clippers’ Fay McCormack
Star Clippers’ UK general manager Fay McCormack is this week’s Time Traveller, sponsored by HarpWallen.
What was your first job in travel?
At 18 years old I joined the travel industry as junior travel consultant for Essex-based Intatravel at their Colchester Branch. I worked my way up to branch manager at the Ipswich store by the time I was 21 and, after the business was eventually bought by First Choice, I enjoyed a further happy decade working for them.
What has been the high point of your career?
Winning branch manager of the year when working for First Choice. I can honestly say that not a single part of me expected it and I was totally blown away for weeks afterwards.
What was the low point?
Leaving First Choice Retail to join another part of the TUI business. I knew the time was right, the branch didn’t need me anymore and I needed to grow but I missed my team for months afterwards. I had grown up with these guys, as they had with me, and it was incredibly hard going into the office without them being there each day.
Who or what has been the greatest influence on your career?
Customers, without a doubt. When you first start to realise that people actually put trust in you to arrange precious holidays, sometimes spending their life savings on it, and the joy it brings you personally when it’s delivered, there’s no greater drive than that to work as hard as you can.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
Definitely working for Star Clippers. Every time I go on one of our ships I find myself thinking about what jobs I could do onboard so I wouldn’t have to get off again! There is something so truly magical about being on the open seas under full sails, listening to the waves, watching the crew and just sailing to the next exciting port of call to drop anchor. It’s an amazing, unique product and I feel very privileged to be an ambassador for Star Clippers here in the UK.
What would you be doing now if you weren’t in travel?
Wondering why I wasn’t working in travel no doubt! A personal shopper maybe? I am rather good at shopping.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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