Pros
I joined this role straight out of university after spending three months travelling around Southeast Asia, keen to start a career in an industry I love. Following a thorough interview process, I completed five weeks of training at the Kensington headquarters — and I can honestly say I’ve never learned so much in such a short space of time. The training programme is exceptional. Clare, Joe and Harry were highly knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and really motivating. Training covered systems, destination knowledge, and sales techniques, giving me a strong foundation before starting in the travel centre. Once in the travel centre, the support continued with constant guidance from senior team members. While it took a few months to fully get to grips with everything and build confidence, reaching that point felt incredibly rewarding. The team I work with is fantastic — everyone is like-minded, passionate about travel, and the day-to-day environment is fun and positive. Trailfinders also offers outstanding opportunities, from familiarisation trips to excellent staff discounts, which allow you to truly understand the product you’re selling. There are additional progression opportunities too, such as moving into specialist teams (e.g. first-class and business travel) or training/product/marketing roles. There’s also flexibility to work at other travel centres, which is a great added benefit.
Cons
The role involves shift work rather than fixed hours, with a mix of early and late finishes depending on the rota. While this becomes easier to manage over time, the later shifts can feel quite long. Lunch breaks are fairly short, although food is provided, which is a positive. The job can also be very challenging at times, particularly in the early stages when you’re still learning and building confidence. There’s a lot to take in, and it can feel overwhelming when navigating a new system, portal, or supplier while a client is sat in front of you or on the phone. With experience, this becomes far more manageable, but it’s something worth being aware of as a new starter.