We had a chat with Lisa Bonnicii, a former student with Flight Centre Travel Academy, and asked her about her experience studying the Diploma with us, and where it has taken her.
Why did you choose to study with Flight Centre travel Academy?
I had been finding it hard to get my foot in the door to the travel industry, as most employers wanted experience on the systems. By doing the
Diploma of Travel and Tourism and Diploma of Business Management, I felt this would give me an edge over others new to the travel industry.
What did you enjoy the most?
I really enjoyed getting to know other people (many from the course are still friends now). I also had the opportunity to share my own personal travel history (I have been to approximately 56 countries, and sailed most of the major cruise lines over 25+ years!)
Learning new systems and services is also a huge drawcard for me, as I am able to push myself to achieve goals, to get to where I wanted to be.
What has your journey been like since graduating?
Unfortunately COVID saw a setback in gaining employment, so I ran my own coffee business for a few years. In 2023, at the age of 42 I decided to give it another go and applied to Flight Centre Modbury, where I was lucky enough to gain a full-time position. I worked there for 12 months before applying for my dream job working with Cruiseabout (part of the Flight Centre Travel Group). When I did my course in 2017 it was with the goal of becoming a cruise specialist and working for Cruiseabout. Unfortunately the brand was closed down in 2018 but has now re-opened this year.
What is your current role and what are your responsibilities?
I am a full time Senior Cruise Consultant at Cruiseabout West Lakes.
I have recently become a Princess Commodore level specialist, as well as achieving my Masters for CLIA, I am also a Master with Norwegian Cruise Line and fully qualified as a Disney Cruise Line Specialist. There is always lots of training and learning so I am working towards other specialist levels with other suppliers.
My daily role involves servicing walk in customers, providing expert travel advise while also answering phone calls, calling suppliers and helping customers in emergency situations. I also contact customers who have sent an online enquiry through from Facebook or our website. We work as a team to help look after each others customers if one of us is on leave, so our customers always have someone available to help them.
Do you have any advice to future students considering studying with Flight Centre Travel Academy and/or working in travel and tourism?
- Do IT!!! It is hard sometimes, but grit through and stick to it. Reach out to your tutors and other students. No question is ever a silly one.
- When in store be prepared to learn a lot more and continue to learn - as the industry is always changing. 90% of the job will be learnt once working. Take notes, ask questions, shadow people to learn from them.
- Enjoy the journey - be organized and enjoy the perks that can come with the job.
- They say if you love work, you'll never work a day in your life - I feel truly blessed to work with the team I have in my dream role. I'm excited for my Brightness of Future.