Kathleen Mitropoulos began working at Hemisphere Travel four years ago as the receptionist. This past season, she joined the company’s Operations Department.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Learning the different aspects of how a trip is put together from beginning to end. I worked at a travel agency before Hemisphere, so it’s interesting to see how a trip or itinerary is put together, as opposed to selling it as a whole package.
What is your favorite destination?
I will say Europe—for now. I loved Barcelona, Spain, and Venice, Italy. I got into the travel industry to not really have any favorite destination, but to take in as many as I can, while I can.
What’s your favorite travel memory from when you were a student, or the best thing you’ve learned while traveling?
I have many favorite travel memories and have learned much from being able to travel to many different places. As a child my family—my parents and two sisters and I—went on a three-week road trip in a station wagon. It was one of the best road trips I ever went on and helped teach me not to be afraid of going to new places.
There is so much in this world to see that is interesting and informative.
What’s your most prized travel souvenir?
My husband bought me a pearl necklace and ring on our honeymoon in Hawaii. I also collect souvenir spoons from every destination I go to, even if it’s just for the day.
If you were stranded in an airport, what three things would you want with you?
- A cellphone.
- My husband to keep me company.
- People
If you could run into anyone famous—fictional or nonfictional, historical or mythical—during travel, whom would you want to run into?
I would love to run into Ellen DeGeneres. She makes me and many others smile and laugh! I love her saying at the end of every show: “Be kind to one another.”
What is your favorite mode of transportation?
Flying—but only because it gets you there quicker. I really don’t like it. I also don’t mind cruising, because you are able to see new places that you may enjoy going back to in the future and you are able to get a flavor of what different destinations have to offer.
What destination on your bucket list do you most want to visit?
Australia is on my bucket list. I would love to see Sydney and Melbourne, but most of all the Great Barrier Reef and the breathtaking beauty it has to offer.
What’s your favorite activity while traveling, or something you’ve always wanted to try?
I love to explore the different towns of each area and see what the hype is. I would also love to do a road trip, in an RV, of the National Parks out west and take my time visiting them all.
What do you love about travel?
I decided to go into this business so I could travel and see what the world has to offer. I like seeing how other people live and what interesting new experiences destinations have to offer.
Traveling to new places makes great new memories. I just wish I had the money to see it all!
Written by Hemisphere Educational Travel