Interview with John Dixon, Chairman and Managing Director of Prestige Holidays

John Dixon is the co-founder, Chairman and Managing Director of independent tour operator Prestige Holidays and has worked in luxury travel for over 40 years.Prestige Holidays is celebrating its 22nd year in the luxury travel market and is known for its quality holidays, excellent personal service and strong attention to detail.The company features four and five star hotels in Southern Spain, Mallorca, five of the Canary Islands, Cyprus, the Algarve, Madeira, Morocco, Malta and Gozo and in the summer Turkey, The Italian Lakes, Sardinia and Crete. It is also the leading tour operator to Bermudaand offer a comprehensive programme to Canada. PrestigesCloser to Home brochure features the Isles of Scilly, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm.

What is it that you do exactly?

No two days are ever the same. One day I can be up to my eyes in brochure copy, another I could be number crunching or meeting the Director of a tourist office. I guess that is one of the big attractions of the job! I also need to spend timethinking ahead about how I should develop the company and where our next investment should be directed. I cannot allow the company to stand still.

In fact, we have just launched a new 64 page Croatia brochure so that has taken up a lot of my time over the first quarter of this year and it is a relief and a delight to have the brochure now on the shelves of travel agencies and in the hands of clients and potential clients. The response to it has been fantastic in terms of agents, bookings and in the media exposure it has received.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love the variety of my job, the travel of course and also the people I work with.We have moulded a great group of people in Prestige Holidays and working with them is a real pleasure.

What would you say are the 3 best places youve ever stayed?

One of my favourite places is my friends beautiful log cabin that is lost in the woods on an obscure lake in the wilds of Nova Scotia. Its the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy the peace. Its also a great place to go walking and see the wildlife.

Bermuda is one of my favourite destinations and I try to get there at least twice a year with my wife. One of my favourite hotels is luxurious cottage colony, Cambridge Beaches. Set on a 30 acre peninsula and offering stunning ocean views, five great beaches and three fabulous restaurants its the perfect romantic getaway.

Last but certainly not least is the PhindaGame Reserve in northernKwaZuluNatal. TheVleiLodge has just a handful of very private beautifully presented suites, service of the highest level and the Game Reserve has some of the best game viewing I have ever experienced in all our visits toSouth Africa. Just heaven on Earth.

Whats been your most memorable dining experience to date?

It has to be dining at sunset on the beach inBermudaat Cambridge Beaches. Soaking up the stunning views onLongBayover a glass still sea and enjoying freshly caught fish with my ideal dining companion, my wife of 31 years, Cheri. Yes Im a romantic and long live romance I say!

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

Along time ago I managed a travel agency inLondonnear theBBC inShepherds Bush. My client list was very impressive including many famous Russian conductors andsoloists, actors,writers and jazz musicians. One of my most regular clients was an up and coming actress who appeared on television almost every weekand, horrorof horrors, I could never remember her name!

And then there was the time I stayed in Antiguainanhotelwhere MichaelCaineand David Warner were staying whilst making a film. Thehotelwas very quiet so it was almost impossible not to bump into them. In fact I felt very sorry for them because they seemed to spend a lot of time waiting for an improvement in the weather!

Prestige Holidays has many famous clients in different walks of life including politicians, sportsmen and business leaders but we are totally discreet and never name drop.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

Ive been fortunate enough to have visited lots of places in the world but there are still many Id like to discover. I want to see more of Southern Africa. Canadafascinates metoo,it seems to offer every kind of experience imaginable. Other travel goals areto see real flamenco inSouthern Spain, spend more time with friends inSwitzerland and enjoy cosy pub dinners for two inScotland.And then I have not yet been toSouth America!

Thank you for being our latest interviewee, John the anonymity of the up-and-coming actress makes me wonder if you still cant remember her name!

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Interview with John Dixon, Chairman and Managing Director of Prestige Holidays is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog