Meet the Rep: Premier Holidays' Dave Kneale

What’s your typical week?

My week is split with two days at our Cambridge HQ spent with our sales, marketing and reservations teams. The rest of the time I’m out attending anything from trade meetings and training events to roadshows, fam trips and conferences, spreading the Premier word. I cover about 25,000 miles a year.

How big is Premier Holidays’ on-the-road sales team?

Myself and business development manager Carly Charteris look after all face-to-face contact with travel agents, backed up by a great trade sales team in Cambridge.

What do you keep in the glove box of your car?

Not a lot – my iPhone lead for charging and listening to downloaded music or podcasts, plus reward cards in case I stop for a Costa or a Subway.

And what’s on the radio?

Talksport, 5 Live, Radio 1 or 6 Music. I download the Two Mikes podcast from TalkSport, which fills a lot of my days and makes me laugh out loud, but I only know one other fellow roadie who downloads it and doesn’t look at me strangely when I mention it.

What snack keeps you going on the road?

I’m a good boy who doesn’t often indulge while on the road, but if I need a little sugar fix on a long day out, it would have to be wine gums or Jaffa Cakes.

What’s the silliest thing you’ve ever done for work?

I’ve used many a promotional prop in marketing a product or destination including guitars, hats, wigs and costumes but performing as Elton John in our Premier 80th birthday video is probably my silliest moment!

How many times did you take to pass your driving test?

Second time lucky. I was only 16 when I passed as the age laws are different on the Isle of Man where I grew up.

What gives you ‘road rage’?

Discourteous drivers and the usual fools who just don’t keep left on the motorways when they should!

What’s your favourite hobby?

I am a golf bore! It’s my only sport these days and I play every weekend. I’m also one of the strange breed who relaxes by exercising so I enjoy running and fitness classes. I’ve done half and full marathons and a Tough Mudder in recent years.

Which agency gives you the best cup of tea?

I am lucky to have worked as a northern and southern-based sales manager over the years so I drink tea up north, and coffee down south, and they are all fantastic, as is the welcome.

What key messages do you try to convey in an agent visit?

The huge Premier product range, key updates on destinations that those particular agents sell well and the years of experience within our amazing reservations team. I like to match them up with individual experts at our end for the particular worldwide itineraries they need, which leads to a better rapport and service in the long term.

What’s your advice for agents who don’t currently sell your product but are keen?

We are experts in many parts of the world, which agents might not realise. By trying us they will benefit from expert service, attention to detail, well-presented personalised client quotations and quality travel documentation from a fairly large independent operator, which is still small enough to care passionately about every booking.

If you didn’t work in travel, what would you like to do instead?

I’d be a pro-golfer – or caddying for my daughter when she is the world’s top female golfer 10 years from now!