Meet the 1000MTG travel expert - Sam N

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sam and learning a little about her and her story of embarking on a career in travel and joining 1000MTG.

Sam is a seasoned traveller having visited a current total of 47 countries and is an unofficial ambassador for New Zealand. “I might be a little biased, as it is my home, but New Zealand truly is a beautiful country with so much to offer. The scenery is picturesque, and the landscape is so varied from beaches to glaciers and even subtropical forests. I personally love the adventure the outdoors present, whether it be hiking, bungy jumping, whitewater rafting, you name it; Oh, and the food and coffee certainly don’t disappoint either.”

Sam joined 1000MTG, seeking flexibility to work from wherever she needed, providing the opportunity to spend more time traveling back home to New Zealand from the UK to visit her family.

Read on to learn Sam’s career journey to joining 1000MTG and the advice she has for those considering becoming a Travel Advisor.

Where did your travel career start and what attracted you to the industry?

I was born in one of the best adventure tourism and scenic countries around the world, New Zealand (NZ) so I naturally had an interest in travel and tourism; how could you not? I applied myself to complete a Bachelor of Management majoring in Tourism Management and HR and then commenced a career in a leisure division of a travel company in 2011.

With travel in my bones, I decided to head over to London for a working holiday in 2014. I secured a job with the same company I was working for in NZ, but this time in the corporate division. It was originally just meant to be a temporary job until I decided what else I wanted to do but loved corporate travel so much that it ended up being my career for 12 years.

Before joining 1000 MTG what was the catalyst for change?

In 2022, I decided to start a business as a Money Coach and have absolutely loved the process. However, did not have the time or energy to do it while still working Monday to Friday and having a life of my own.

I needed to find a company that would support the flexibility I required to do both and also allow me to spend more time traveling home to New Zealand to visit my family.

What was it about 1000 MTG that made you say yes?

Choosing to work with 1000MTG was an easy decision for me. I could relate to those I met in the business and their company’s vision for a “work from anywhere” model resonated with me. I love being in new places, and meeting with new people and saw this as the perfect opportunity for me. The structure of running my own business meant that I could still also work on my Money Coaching, which the team at 1000 MTG have been very supportive of. It is up to me to balance the two and be successful.

What advice would you have for anyone considering becoming a Travel Advisor?

Network and connect with other Travel Advisors so you can learn about their experiences and have a better understanding of running your own business. This will also help to create a support network for you. It is good to speak to an accountant because you will be running your own business, which also means you need to factor in expenses and pay your own pension, for example. Having some savings before you start will help ease any concerns around cash flow from day one.

What is the best thing about running your own business?

Where do I start? Being able to work where I want, when I want and with whom I want are some positives. I love the flexibility of choosing my own hours and being able to work literally from anywhere. I could be at home, at a café, at a friend’s or colleague’s home, or from the other side of the world. The possibilities are endless.

Tell us about your travel business niche

I largely specialize in business travel, working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) from a variety of industries; including finance, pharmaceuticals, media, etc. to support their business travel programs. I am also looking to expand my business into luxury leisure travel as I miss the joy people get from planning their dream vacations.

What have you learned from running your own business?

The thing that I have learned and want others to know is that slow and steady wins the race. Don’t try to take on everything at once and just build up your business slowly so you will feel less overwhelmed and less likely to burn the candle at both ends.

Having your own business is a lifestyle choice and is different from being an employee where your working hours and office location are not flexible. Remember to enjoy the new adventure and not forget the reasons why you decided to make the jump to a career as a Travel Advisor, even on the hard days.

Find out more about Sam or get in contact here.