One of the best parts of being in the Tourism industry for many years has been the people I have met. Our industry has an endless list of talented, hardworking, fun-loving and creative professionals. I decided that I would interview my friends and give you a peek into their lives and careers. Feel free to ask questions in the comments section, and I will follow-up with the guest interviewed. This week we hear from my good friend Sandy Borowsky from Starr Tours, one of the largest East Coast tour companies. Everyone loves working with Starr!
- Tell us a bit about how you got started in the tourism industry.
Buses are in my blood, that’s for sure! My Grandfather founded Starr in 1947, my dad, Alan Glickman is our CEO, and now our company is reaching into its 3rd generation, ME! Here’s a funny story about how I got started… I was in my late 20s and working as a Buyer for a major department store chain in Los Angeles when my dad hired a Headhunter to fill the Charter Manager position at Starr. Sure enough the Headhunter asked him about me coming to work for Starr and to make a long story short, here I am, 18 years later! (And yes, my dad had to pay the Headhunter’s fee since she “found” me!)
- What is your current job and what are your primary responsibilities?
In my 18+ years at Starr, I have worked in almost every facet of the business (but I don’t drive or fix buses!) The Tour division is where I currently spend my time overseeing Tour Operations, Tour Product Development as well as Marketing and Business Development for the entire company.
- What are some of the changes you have seen since you began your career?
The industry is constantly changing and it’s important to keep up with the times. Technology has played a big part in tourism development (reservations, scheduling, pricing, etc) and those who welcome change are in a better position to be successful.
- What tourism trends are you seeing that will impact your job and how you work in the next 2 years?
Our customers all want different things out of their vacations and it’s hard to be everything to everyone. This means we have to do our best to communicate our product to potential (and existing) customers so they know what to expect. And then we have to over-deliver. Customer Service will always be paramount to the success of any company so Starr’s focus will continue to be its service so we can continue to be a leader in the motorcoach tour and charter bus industry.
- It’s vacation time – where do you go?
With 3 boys at home (and a 4th if you count my husband!), our vacations are limited to summers and holidays. I want to spend as much time with my family as possible before my kids start to go off to college and live their own lives. My youngest is 10, middle is 13 and oldest is 15. Truly never a dull moment in my household and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Weekends are mini vacations for me whether it be freezing on the soccer sidelines, sweating at a natatorium, standing at a basketball game or coordinating a Jump Rope performance. Family vacation favorites are OBX ( Outer Banks of North Carolina) and California to visit family. Europe is on our “To Do List!”
- What is your favorite app and tell us a bit about it.
My favorite APP is NEST (but shhhh, don’t tell my husband). We recently hooked up our heating/cooling systems electronically so we can adjust the temperature from our phones. My husband sets the temperature and then after I get in bed, I make it warmer and he doesn’t even know! Now he can’t yell at me for keeping it too warm in the house! I also can’t live without WAZE. Always trust WAZE to get you where you need to go in the shortest amount of time. Other than that, I love to pay with my phone (and I love earning rewards even more) so I use my Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Wawa and Chick -fil- A APPS all the time!
- What is your favorite tradeshow and why?
I have always been a networker and I fully believe in the power of networking. Growing up, I always made sure my different groups of friends knew each other because it allowed me to spend time with more people at the same time. Now, I believe in expanding one’s network-both personally and professionally. Tradeshows allow me to do this effectively because I can network with people in the same industry facing lots of the same challenges. Through valuable tradeshows run by the American Bus Association, International Motorcoach Group, and Pennsylvania Bus Association (I am a Board Member), I have expanded my network to include tourism partners across the U.S and Canada. With this expanded network, I can reach out to these new contacts (and many are now friends) when I have questions, a new product to sell, or just want to run an idea by someone.
What advice do you have for someone just getting started in the tourism industry?
Be patient! It takes time to learn about an industry. Ask questions, listen, learn, participate and give back. Work hard. Network. Build relationships. Volunteer in your local community to expand your network –The result is your personal and professional lives becoming intertwined — And the benefit is a richer life-both professionally and personally. Trust me!