Work-life balance: Jenny Cookman, Travel Counsellors

Travel consultant and river cruise specialist Jenny Cookman on taking risks, making memories and building relationships 

I get up at… 7am and usually start work early after a cup of green tea.

My job entails… A wide range of things, every day is different. My priority is to provide a personal booking experience and it’s a pleasure to help my clients travel with confidence, making lasting memories. I also work closely with our amazing suppliers and often undertake training or attend events. Last week I was at the Clia Luxury and Expedition residential, learning about a range of brands and catching up on exciting industry developments as well as being inspired by the incredible, fearless polar explorer, Ann Daniels. I’ll also spend part of my week networking and meeting people. I’m the Charity Liaison Board member for the Chiltern American Women’s Club and love being part of this thriving community as well as supporting our chosen charity, Carers Bucks.

I got here by… Taking a risk and jumping into a new role with Travel Counsellors, just before a global pandemic. I have had to face challenges along the way and continue to work hard to build my business. We won awards for the way we looked after our clients during a very challenging period. Good communication is so important, being able to listen to clients, build trust and form relationships with our fantastic suppliers. 

I stay motivated by… My love of travel – particularly river cruising – and a desire to facilitate opportunities for others to make their own memories. I was hooked on river cruising from my first river cruise conference in 2019 where I met Kristin Karst, the co-founder of AmaWaterways. I’ve worked hard to become an expert and have taken as many opportunities as possible to experience river cruising first hand. I now share my blogs on my website rivercruising.blog.

I destress by… Spending lots of time with my family and friends. In April, I spent a fantastic day in a lambing shed, helping to deliver and care for lambs. I’ve recently been to Glastonbury, a complete contrast to luxury river cruising. I’m a continuous learner and love new experiences and watching people at the top of their chosen profession including sport, music, and theatre.

My last cruise was… Uniworld’s Burgundy and Provence itinerary. We travelled through the heart of the scenic Rhône Valley wine region, and I loved exploring the beautiful towns and cities along the way. Sailing with Uniworld is an absolute delight. My ‘floating hotel’ was the stunning SS Catherine. I was extremely well looked after, and nothing is too much trouble for the amazing staff.

My favourite travel quote is… “Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your life with stories to tell.” Paula Bendfeldt.

The cruise line to watch is… There are so many fantastic river cruise lines that I can’t choose one, but the developments in the industry are very exciting.