30 Under 30: Meet James Scott

I wanted to gain as much experience as possible from a young age,” says 25-year-old James Scott from Southampton.

“Not only has being selected for the TTG 30 Under 30 programme been my one of the proudest moments in my career yet, it’s also a great opportunity to meet and learn from my peers about the wider industry outside cruise.”

A focus on travel and tourism in secondary school, coupled with an inspiring mentor who secured Scott work experience at Carnival UK, kicked off a passion for the industry.

“After completing college, I made the decision to delay university and travel in New Zealand – this is when my love for travel grew deeper.”

Arriving home in 2014, Scott abandoned higher education to take up a role with Holland America Line and Seabourn as reservations cruise consultant, advancing to international air-sea consultant and business development representative in 2016.

“My dad always told me to aim for the stars. I may not reach them, but I’ll hit the top of the tree, rather than aiming for the top of the tree and only hitting the bark!”