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Travel's My Game: Ollivier's My Name

by Bert Ollivier, c.t.c.

185 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #07-0448; ISBN 1-4251-2044-X; US$23.95, C$23.95, EUR16.36, £12.37

"Travel's My Game," is a story about the travel business by a young man who worked hard on his trip to the top in a multi-million dollar giant company in the Canadian Travel Industry.

About the Book

This true story starts with the author's first thoughts, at a very early age, of entering the travel industry. His teen years and young adult life are touched upon, including education, both formal and informal, complete with some brief encounters and references to sex edification…again, all true.

The author's entry into the exciting business of travel was a combination of a huge amount of luck and of simply being in the right place at the right time; it had nothing to do with an abundance of brainpower! He was a high-school dropout and was raised, not in rags, but far from riches, during the Great Depression. He was determined, however, with encouragement from both parents but primarily his father, to work very hard, extend his education, and be the most he could be. The author believes that he achieved this in the travel business. Eventually, by climbing slowly up a very high ladder, he finally sat at the desk where the "buck stopped"…in a multi-million-dollar travel company. He slipped from that ladder frequently, but always managed to get up and somehow get the job done.

In this account, the inside workings of the travel business are revealed, especially as it was developing in the 'forties, 'fifties, 'sixties, and beyond. A reader's eyes may be opened by some behind-the-scenes revelations of how a tour product is priced and marketed, and how a tour operator "operates." Readers will enjoy their trip.

Reviews

This book is part biography, part history and part insight into the business side of the travel industry. Anyone who meets Bert Ollivier can understand why he's been so successful. He's cheerful, friendly and bright. As a young man on the make just after WWII he was good-looking, outgoing and energetic – all big plusses, but no overnight sensation. His biggest plus is that he knew what he wanted and made sacrifices to do it. He entertains while describing the bumps along the road with surprising candour. Ollivier's a practiced storyteller, with a nice sense of humour.

Brian Wilford, Associate Editor
Harbour Star, Nanaimo, BC.

Ollivier, a certified travel counsellor, Canada and U.S.A., makes clear his book is not a travelogue but rather an adventure story. He tells how the business side of travel evolved in the post WWII period, onward from 1946. Many behind the scenes activities on his way to the top in the travel industry will "open eyes."

Mike Gillespie, Columnist
Times Colonist, Victoria, BC.

A very enjoyable read. It was interesting to learn about the travel industry from the inside, behind the scenes. One never thinks about what goes on internally – just happy if the travel arrangements work out as planned. The related personal information made for a more interesting read as well. And, no grammatical errors were detected! Ollivier's next book/sequel will no doubt attract much interest. The plan is to feature his 14 years with The State of Hawaii Visitors Bureau… a fun job!

Vivian Penner
Retired English literature teacher and holder of a TESL Certificate.

This will be in the paper as the "Book Of The Month." The story line hooks the reader right from the start – good ol' style writing with natural style "talking."

Chalmers Whitelaw, Editor
The LOG, Lantzville, BC.

Ollivier's book will be displayed in our window for passers-by to see and bring in inquiries for our travel agency. The writer really knows the business and is a very special person in this enigmatic travel industry. His next book should be a dandy!

George Bell
Bell Tours & Travel Service, White Rock, BC.

About the Author

Bert Ollivier's career in the travel industry began in Toronto with University Tours Limited, a retail travel agency. During the 1950s and early '60s, within the industry, it was said that the difference between a travel retailer and a tour operator or travel wholesaler was about 24 hours. And so it happened, in the early 1960s, that University Tours Ltd. became a wholesale travel/tour operator almost overnight, under the name of UTL Holiday Tours. Bert, who had started as an agent-in-training, eventually worked his way to the top, occasionally with some slightly unorthodox methods, before resigning from UTL in 1980.

Almost immediately, Ollivier formed a small consulting company, known as Travelfax Consultants Limited, which he still operates. By 1982, he was once again in the thick of the travel game, opening the first Canadian office for his new client, the State of Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. Ollivier retired from HV&CB in 1995, but came out of retirement in 1996 to act as an account manager and a columnist specializing in Hawaii and the South Pacific for GSA Travel Magazine. Complete information on GSA Travel Magazine is available at www.gsapublishing.com

A CTC (Certified Travel Counsellor) in Canada and the U.S.A., Bert has been active in various travel industry associations. He is a past president of the Ontario chapter of ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) and served on the ASTA board of directors from 1963 through 1965. He was a founding member of the education committees of both ASTA and the Alliance of Canadian Travel Agents. Ollivier is also a Rotarian, a Royal Canadian Legionnaire and a member of SKAL, an international travel club.

Bert and his wife Juanita, live in Nanaimo on British Columbia's Vancouver Island. They can be contacted at bjollivier@shaw.ca or by phone/fax 250-751-2219.