Interview with Erica Adelson of The Travel Corporation

By Lauren | February 8, 2016 | 0 Comment

To continue my series where I interview young professionals in the communications industry about their careers, the places they work, and tips for other young professionals, I chatted with Erica Adelson, Public Relations and Digital Marketing Specialist at The Travel Corporation, a travel group which houses Contiki, a travel tour company for young people. I first met Erica at a Travel Massive event in Toronto last year, and as someone who works in my dream industry (travel), I thought it be interesting to interview her. Here’s what Erica had to say…

Introduce yourself – what should we know about you?

I am a problem solver. I get tremendous satisfaction from finding solutions to complex issues – and helping a business succeed as the result is the best application of that skill.

Tell me a bit about your role at The Travel Corporation.

I do public relations and digital media, which includes partnerships (recently with eOne Films for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2), working with consumer and travel industry media to create amazing stories about our trips, and plan events with our partners, like the German National Tourism Board.

What is your educational background or past experience that helped you land a job at The Travel Corporation?

I graduated from McGill University with a degree in political science (minor in communications), which taught me how to synthesize large amounts of information and complex issues into digestible sound bites, which is precisely what I do now. I then worked at Edelman Public Relations, which gave me the fundamentals to thrive in my role. I strongly recommend that young communication and marketing professionals start their careers in a large agency.

How long have you been working at The Travel Corporation?

Two years come February 18th – time flies.

What does a day-in-your-life look like in your role?

It starts early. I begin work at 7:30am, so I can check my emails and read the news (and beat the traffic). I spend the early morning writing communication materials (strategy documents, press releases, pitch or fact sheets). By 10:00am, I’ll be in meetings with our PR team, the Contiki marketing team, or a partner we’re trying to work with. Somehow the clock will fast-forward to about 1:00pm and I’ll take a break for lunch. The afternoon isn’t planned – I tackle whatever is most pressing. By 4:00pm, I start planning my next day and leave by 5:00pm for the gym. About once or twice a week, there is a travel industry event to attend. I love my schedule and appreciate work-life balance.

What have been necessary skills to be successful in your role?

Creativity and opportunistic thinking. The ability to manage your day-to-day projects and always be thinking about what’s coming up next, or what you can do to move the business forward.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to work for The Travel Corporation?

Love to travel and get to know the business. Visit contiki.com, request a brochure, or read the trip descriptions in-depth! It is wonderful to speak to someone who wants to work for the brand and knows the product. If you have taken a trip with Contiki, that’s a BONUS!

What is your favourite part about your job?

Forming partnerships that help us do great things! This past fall, we hosted an event with the German National Tourist Office at Otto’s Berlin Doner in Kensington Market, Toronto – their first private event. That event helped secure Germany as a sponsor in our new campaign that we launched January 18th.

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