Staff profile: The face behind the ‘phone…

If you've ever had the pleasure of speaking to Ellen, you'll know that she's one of the most cheerful consultants in travel, however many calls she's taken. Recently back from a trip to India, here's some Q and A's to help you get to know her that bit better...

Name: Ellen Pope

Job title: Travel Sales Consultant

How long have you worked for Dragoman? 1 year and 6 days!

What did you do before working for Dragoman? I've been around a bit! My last job was for a shipping company but I've also worked for Thomas Cook (both in the UK and in Turkey) worked as ground staff at Gatwick Airport and started training as a vet nurse but found it a bit sad - I just wanted to adopt all the animals!

If you weren't working for Dragoman, what would you most like to do? I would be a helicopter pilot working for Born Free http://www.bornfree.org.uk/ in Africa. I'd also run my own safari business. Both of those things are lottery dependent, I think!

Best thing about working for Dragoman? Drago is like one big family, everyone is friendly and you really feel part of the team rather than just a number. Also, we make really great trips and I love the trucks! Finally, I feel happy in my working life.

What's your favourite Dragoman trip and why? How can I decide? I've recently been on our SDM trip, Delhi to Mumbai. It was an amazing experience and I'm ready to do it again! The culture, the landscape, the truck and especially the crew made it such a great trip - I even enjoyed the bush camping, which I didn't think I would have! The thing I loved the most, though, was the variety of it all - one minute we were sleeping under the stars with a camel by my head and a dog by my feet, the next we were in a beautiful hotel with fabulous food and cold beer or a home stay sitting on a roof terrace over looking the lights of the town.
I think my next trip has to be the Zanzibar and Zambezi Zigzag, I'm absolutely hooked on Africa and feel I need to see more!

When you're not at work, what do you like to do? I'm currently learning to play the drums and hope that Bon Jovi will soon ask me to be another band member. Failing that, I love to spend time with my friends, going out for meals or going on holiday.

What's the one piece of advice you would give a customer before booking a Dragoman trip? Please read the trip notes and make sure the trip you choose is right for you. Have an open mind and expect the unexpected.

What's on your Christmas list this year? Money for travelling! Oh, and a new bed please.

Any New Year's resolutions? To at least have booked myself on the next Rio Carnival! Everyone in the office who has been said it's been their favourite trip, it looks like so much fun and I've not been to Brazil. Ideally, I would like to see more of South America but I may have to have a few more New Year's under my belt before I complete all of my plans!