Destination Rep.

[Blondie24]

Hi! I am going to an interview next Monday for a potential job as a Destination Representative (will be based in Puerto Plata) for a Canadian Tour Operator company called Sunwing. Would anyone be able to tell me what I should be expecting in a job like this, has anyone on this board ever worked as a Destination Rep. for airline compagnies? Just seeking some opinions on pros and cons for this kind of job.

Thanks for your help and I will see some of you on August 11!

[Chris]

Blondie24, I hope you're not moving for those guys that you were telling us about before.

I hope Planner sees this thread. She is a good one to tell you what the position entails.

[planner]

Planner just saw it.....LOL

I cannot comment on Sunwing specifically but can tell you generalities.

First I agree with Chris, do NOT come here and take a job for some guy! You may end up very very unhappy.

The job will entail long long hours in the heat, dealing with cranky clients, sometimes very happy ones too but generally the one with problems. You will most likely be underpaid for the work you do! Much of the pay these days is based on commission sales of excursions. And let me tell you tourists are buying fewer and fewer! Your schedule is most likely 5 1/2 days a week - working weekends, evenings etc. You will NOT have a lot of time to enjoy the beach, go dancing etc etc. Reps work hard and long hours.

While you may be offered accomodations at a hotel, your male friend or friends will not be welcome on resort. If you are here for him then you will be getting and paying for an apartment etc out of your earnings. Your earnings will be good for short periods of time and at other times not good at all. It will also very much depend on what hotel or hotels you are working with. At some better hotels the reps make far more money and have less problems. Other hotels - rampant problems and little commission earnings. Reps with seniority are going to be given the better hotels.

Depending on the deal you may be allowed to eat at the hotel. BUT that is not to be taken for granted as some hotel management has removed that benefit.

For some reps - they love the business. They are good at dealing with management, guests etc. In most cases they can speak some spanish - a lot easier to deal with problems that way. Some reps make good money and live comfortably. others do not!!!

Again this is a generalization! None of this specifically applies to Sunwing or any other company! Each one is different. This is a compilation of all.

[bellissima_81]

hey blondie i sent you a pm as i too had a job offer wiht sunquest for a destination rep position!

[Blondie24]

Chris & Planner - I am not moving FOR anyone but for myself

Planner - If I take this kind of job, I will be hired from Canada not locally...I heard it makes a big difference on the salary... Also, I am not going to DR to be on vacation (beach, party, etc. all the time). I currently work at the Canadian Federal Government in the international division and I think this job would be a really nice learning experience and a good addition to the skills I already have. My main duty at work is to coordinate all the travel/meeting preparation/solving problems during high level international meetings (My ''clients'' are Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors, High level officers.) so I'm quite prepared to deal with cranky clients. Thanks for your advice, they will be usefull in preparing a list of questions I want to ask during my interview!

bellissima_81 - Got your PM!!! Thanks and I hope we get to chat a bit more!!!

[paradise07]

Hey ladies (Blondie & Belissima)....I sent both of you PMs as I too am currently exploring the options of working as Destination Rep too after spending 3 months living in the country.

Hopefully we can help each along with the process...

[Blondie24]

Originally Posted by paradise07

Hey ladies (Blondie & Belissima)....I sent both of you PMs as I too am currently exploring the options of working as Destination Rep too after spending 3 months living in the country.

Hopefully we can help each along with the process...

Hey Paradise07! Thanks for the info you sent me, I surely appreciate it!!! Of course we will keep in touch! I sent you a PM.

[planner]

Blondie - sounds like you are not coming with illusions! Unfortunately so many come here on vacation, see only a small part of a reps work and think it looks easy. It definately is not. Personally I think they are overworked and underpaid.

Maybe it does make a difference where you are hired - in terms of pay. I hope so for your sake!

[MommC]

Doesn't make that much difference planner......
The reps we know make barely minimum wage by Canadian standards ($7/hour with no overtime -although they often work VERY long hours!) and sometimes not even that as there is a little, tiny loophole that lets companies pay wages to workers hired in Canada to work internationally at the going rates in the international country they will be working in - so the rate of pay will be roughly equivalent to a moderate Dominican monthly salary nost likely.

[canajungirl]

Blondie a little bit of advice >>> don't quit the fed gov't job you have to be a destination rep, if you can, take a "leave of absence" cuz the $$$$ ain't gonna be the same not even close. If it doesn't work out at least you have a job to go back to !!