Couple quickly adapt to their new workplace
IAN STALKER
Victoria travel agent Cathy Scott clearly isn’t adverse to recruiting staff from afar.
Scott, who bills herself as the chief exploration officer at Ensemble agency Departures Travel, has bolstered her staff with two Ukrainian travel agents eager to leave their homeland after the onset of the war.
“It was an unsolicited email from Max with a subject line referencing Ukrainian travel advisors coming to Canada,” Scott recalls of the initial contact. “Although I get many of these sorts of emails, usually bogus, I had a gut instinct that I should read this one. I learned that they were travel advisors in Ukraine and that the family had opened a travel agency in 1996, where both Max and Viktoriia had been working before the start of the war.
Given that the Ukrainian duo were what Scott labels very experienced travel advisors and agency owners they have had a “relatively seamless transition.”
Scott says Max is extremely knowledgeable – particularly about travel in Europe – and is an expert in putting together FIT trips.
“They (clients) love him!,” Scott reports. “Viktoriia ended up pivoting into a management role here in the company and I couldn’t be happier with the two of them! It is one of the best business decisions I have ever made. They have changed the dynamic in our office in such a positive way and they have truly become like family.”
Scott says the only significant adaption was Viktoriia’s taking on more of an administrative role as someone in the office as the person who previously handled the accounting left and the administrative role was something Viktoriia was interested in taking on.
“The only other thing is that they are very hard workers and sometimes I need to remind them to take breaks and leave at the end of the day.”
Meanwhile, Scott says she’d consider hiring other Ukrainians if staffing needs arise.
“This has been such a positive experience on every level,” she adds. “We gained experienced, knowledgeable professionals as well as wonderful additions to our team and our community.”
