My name is Alison Kent and I am an independent Travel Counsellor. I live in South East London with my partner John and our much‑loved menagerie: Bill, Ernie and Blossom the dogs, Mabel the cat, Coco, Petal, Pearl and Bree the guinea pigs, and Henrietta, Oregon, Florence, Pretoria and Dottie the chickens. It is a busy, happy home, and travel stories are very much part of the fabric of our lives.

My love affair with travel began when I was five years old, listening wide‑eyed to the stories of my big brother’s glamorous air hostess girlfriend. I decided there and then that I would work in travel, and I have been fortunate enough to spend the last 47 years doing exactly that.

Over those four and a half decades I have held a variety of senior roles across the industry, from high‑street retail and student travel to cruise, tour operating and high‑end tailor‑made. I have managed branches and regions, overseen fares and ticketing, led VIP and leisure sales teams, and worked as a product manager for destinations including the Indian Ocean, Caribbean and UAE. I have also spent time living in the USA and working at sea, which has given me a deep, first‑hand understanding of how every part of a journey fits together for my clients.

In March 2017 I was headhunted by Travel Counsellors. I love being a TC as , it allows me to give my clients truly dedicated, one‑to‑one service instead of being tied to a standard 9.00 to 5.30 day. I am incredibly proud of the level of service and care I provide, and many of my clients return to me time and again and recommend me to their friends and family.