Reuben Goldingham Newsom

Tell me about your journey, how did you get to be a Hottie?

I didn’t even know travel agents existed to a certain extent, but after returning home from a 6 month backpacking trip around Europe, I stumbled upon a House of Travel job advertisement, and have never looked back since!

Take us behind the scenes - what does a day in your life look like?

No day is the same, no trip is the same, and no person is the same. Its this that makes my day so interesting, but also brings with it some challenges. Researching and problem solving tend to take up a portion of my day, along with many phone calls, emails and meetings. I love a good challenge, and these are not hard to come by in this environment. My job is very fast paced, often with a lot on my plate at once, but it means the working day flies by in the best way possible.

What advice would you give someone just starting their career or is interested in your role?

Travel as much as you can. Having a strong passion for travel, along with your own travel experience is a great starting point to enter the industry.

Is there anything people don’t understand about your job that you wish they did?

Before I started at House of Travel, I thought the role would be as easy as booking flights on the Air NZ website and booking hotels on booking.com. Little did I know the complexity that’s involved in making a sale from start to finish, but that’s all part of what makes each day so interesting.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love meeting new people each day, and working with them to create ever lasting memories. There is nothing more rewarding than hearing from a client once they have arrived back safely to say that they had a fantastic time away. There are also fantastic perks such as familiarisation trips, discounted agent fares, and constant prizes and giveaways from suppliers.

How would you explain to your friends and family what working here is like?

Working at House of Travel means I’m as close to travelling as I can be, without actually being away. It’s also very rewarding knowing that you have played a role in bringing families closer together, creating valuable memories, and putting smiles on our clients faces. We have a very friendly and positive environment throughout the company which brings with it a feeling of safety and security.

What is it about House of Travel that keeps you coming back?

The culture and atmosphere is very vibrant and exciting. It’s clear when working here that we are all passionate about our work. Spending each day travelling the world on a PC in front of me means that I’m always thinking about and planning my next overseas holiday.

What are you looking forward to currently, in your role and personally?

I’m looking forward to many successful years ahead in the most exciting industry out there. I have a trip booked to Bali next year, and am looking at penciling in a cruise to further develop my knowledge on cruising. I’m also looking forward to our annual conference as it is one of the best nights of the year.