Matt Pink, customer experience manager at easyJet Holidays, tells TTG about his passion for package getaways.
Matt Pink learnt early on in his career that the world of travel isn’t always plain sailing. He had been at Thomas Cook for two years when the company collapsed last September.
However, just a month later, Pink was back in work, landing a job as customer experience manager at easyJet Holidays.
Before Cook’s demise, Pink had worked his way through various departments there, including ancillaries, product and online experience management.
His love of package holidays encouraged him to initially sign up for the Cook graduate scheme. He explains: “Growing up, I was lucky enough to go to Majorca for several summer holidays. It gave me a real desire to learn more about how a package holiday is created, as well as a firm interest in travel.”
Despite losing his job when Cook collapsed, Pink looks back on his time there with fondness, and says it provided invaluable experience.
“Thomas Cook gave me a brilliant introduction to the world of travel. While the easyJet Holidays strategy and vision is different, having an understanding of some core aspects of holidays has been useful. I’m learning completely new ways of working here, and I’m loving every minute of it.”
Having helped create and launch Cook’s January 2019 online city breaks campaign, Pink is now eager to adopt the latest web-based innovations to improve easyJet Holidays’ customer experience too.
“In a time with growing emphasis on Instagrammable travel and sustainability, I think it’s inevitable that customers’ focus on seeking a more local and authentic experience will continue to grow. The industry must continue to adapt to [that].”
While he believes technology will still play an important role in the evolution of travel, Pink says it’s sustainability that must take priority in2020.
“The whole industry should be responsible for pursuing permanent solutions to this issue. We need to understand how we can best give back to and support communities while giving holidaymakers an experience to remember.”
Nick Hughes, sales director, Gold Medal and Travel 2, sponsor of Tomorrow’s Travel Leaders, says:
“Matt has worked exceptionally hard this year after the collapse of Thomas Cook. It’s great seeing how he’s used his skills and passion for package holidays to develop his career within the newly relaunched easyJet Holidays. While easyJet Holidays’ strategy and vision will be different to Cook’s, Matt’s experience in the industry has led him to become incredibly valuable within his role, especially in the customer experience sector.”