Its a people thing…..

Friday evening and we’re facing one of the busiest weekends of our year with arrivals in villas in Coral Bay and Peyia. Many of the arrivals are returning guests; some old friends; all new friends, we hope.

Friends ask us why we do this work when we barely get a moment to ourselves. I’ve thought long and hard about it and I think the answer is that it really is a people thing for me. We get to meet so many wonderful people; have many challenges but we’re all in it together.

I think our work is a privilege: to be able to be part of preparing the foundations of someones long awaited holiday is a big responsibility but we respect that and try very hard to do all we can.

Things do go wrong occasionally – and have this week unfortunately. Bob Gray, one of our wonderful returning guests, had to correct me on his arrival date which we’d inadvertently mixed up during our office move, leaving him and his family without a villa for a few days upon arrival.

I was totally mortified but something had to be done. Thank god, we have great relationships with our villa owners and I was able to book a 4 bed villa at short notice from one of them so Bob and his gang have somewhere lovely to spend their first few days before they move into their booked villa. Bob was totally great about the mistake and very patient whilst we sorted it out: I was horrified that it had happened but saved the tears until we’d reached a good solution – but I lost some sleep! Had Bob not known us and trusted us, I don’t know what I would have done. I’m so grateful to him for his understanding and attitude: and thankful that he knows we care enough to want to find solutions. We’ll welcome here on Sunday with gusto, I can tell you!

The change from cyprus pounds to euro has also provided challenge. People who booked last year in cyp, who live in the UK , have seen the UK pound weaken against the euro whilst the euro exchange rate here has stayed at .585274 euro to the one cyp. Many have questioned why their holidays seemed more expensive than when they booked but the fact is the price is the same in the cyp sold price, its just that the euro is strong against the sterling pound.

This year has been very challenging so far but the holiday guests have, with the rare exception, been totally lovely and a great pleasure to work hard for. Life happens/mistakes happen and accidents happen but when people are open and honest and straightforward, things can be sorted out, however painful they may seem at the time.

I don’t think there is any other business I’d like to run at this moment in time. I love dealing with the people; am sorry that sometimes I make mistakes but they are never deliberate and I’m pleased that people trust us enough to return to us.

We’re human too but we’re trying to overcome that! Honestly!