with Campbell Harris
Founder and MD of Global Journeys and Relaxing Journeys
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1. What does your role involve and how long have you been in your current position?
I’m the founder & Managing Director of both Global Journeys – an OTA specialising in guided touring and river cruises, and Relaxing Journeys – an inbounder specialising in touring around New Zealand.
2. How did you start out in your career? Were you always destined to work in the travel industry?
I fell into the travel industry through my skills as a web coder. In fact, when I launched Global Journeys in Australia five years ago I didn’t even know what a GDS was. There were serious gaps in my industry knowledge. Those that know me, also know that I’m a bit of a homebody and don’t even particularly like the “hassle” of travelling! But I do like business.
3. Did you complete formal qualifications, and do you think they are important?
When I started my Bachelor of Commerce degree, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I was 17 and three years later when I finished, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. From a young age I always imagined I’d run my own business – something I think I got from my Dad. I do think attaining formal qualifications is important in teaching selfdiscipline and a good work ethic and they obviously provide a base on which to build the next levels of learning that you receive “on the job”.
4. What do you love about your job?
The opportunities, and to be in a position to be able to act on them. I found that as an employee, I always had an opinion and I always thought there were better ways to do things – many managers don’t like hearing that sort of thing from an employee. Now, while there are things I do on a daily basis that I don’t like doing, I have the choice to occasionally ignore them and to do things I love doing – like looking for gaps and creating solutions to grow and improve our business.
5. What were some of the greatest challenges you’ve had in your career?
I’ve been lucky. I worked hard and did my time working up from the bottom and I have learnt something valuable from every business and industry that I have worked in. More importantly, I have taken opportunities when they have presented themselves. Expanding my business from NZ to Australia wasn’t easy. I thought that the markets would be the same, but they weren’t and it wasn’t until I literally threw away a year’s work and pivoted to create Global Journeys that the gamble started to pay off. Winning AFTA’s “Best Online Travel Agency” in Australia this year was the icing on the cake for myself and my team!
6. What factors were central to your success?
Two things. Firstly, I’m an information and industry gossip junkie. I love it. There is not much happening in the online travel space that I don’t know about. Staying a step ahead of our competition and the changing travel landscape is paramount to success in the online arena. Secondly, I’m a “jack of all trades, master of none” type of guy. I can code, I can design, I can sell, I can manage and I can even do the accounts if I need to. This has allowed me to create a fantastic team that excel in their roles. I understand their individual needs and requirements because at some point in the past, their job was part of my job!
7. What are the keys to good business?
We all know the travel industry is in a state of disruption. The key to good business now is having a skilled tech team, being able to adapt quickly, to spot the gaps and to give it a go. Traditional travel models are still very opposed to change but you need to be forward thinking to succeed in the long run. The consumer is now in the driving seat – they decide what they want, and you need to be adaptable enough to give it to them. There is no point in spending time & resources to convince them that what you do now is the best way – if it’s not working.
8. What advice would you give to others in the industry who would like to follow in your footsteps?
I love reading about start-ups in the travel industry who often, like myself at that stage, don’t fully understand how the industry works. I think that can be a good thing because as they learn, they challenge the way things have always been done. However, while starting or shifting online seems relatively easy, it’s actually hard to make money. As the margins are so low in travel the industry is moving to be one that is volume based. There are plenty of opportunities out there, but it helps if you have a “jack of all trades” on your team!
