Kuoni took over as DFC Women’s Shirt Sleeve Sponsors this season. Here, we chat to Bluewater Store Manager Nicole Winter about her passion for travel and sponsorship with Dartford FC.
The Maldives? New York? The Great Barrier Reef? All often on people’s Bucket Lists of travel destinations to visit once in a life-time. But, Antarctica?
Once an area out-of-reach for most people, travel expert Nicole has recently returned from an amazing trip to one of the most far-flung reaches of the world – and it’s somewhere that has quickly raced to the top spot of places she has visited.
As Store Manager of Kuoni Bluewater, Nicole has a dream job which sees her get the opportunity to take more trips than most.
And she’s never happier than talking about some of the places she has been and helping others follow in her footsteps.
She said: “It’s a special place and a destination you can’t describe with words. You need to go there to experience it.
“I did an Expedition Cruise with HX and headed right down to the end of the world!
“We crossed the Drake’s Passage and suddenly the captain announced ‘Good morning! We are waking up in Antarctica,’ and we looked out from the balcony and saw a huge iceberg.
“Everything was just white. There was no noise. The biggest thing for me was being so far away from human civilization.
“There’s so much wildlife. There are penguins everywhere. When we landed to hike, we were walking around within five metres of them, literally oblivious to us.
“When we moved to Orne Harbour, we saw over 30 Humpback Whales in one day. They were just going about their day, but really inquisitive about us being there.
“The whole experience was incredible. There was a real sense of just being remote and in the wilderness.”
Nicole has been in the travel industry for 25 years, and has managed the Kuoni Bluewater Store since it opened 16 years ago.
She said: “I’ve been very fortunate to be here from the beginning and watch it grow into a very successful store. We’ve got a fantastic, loyal customer base, and that’s the biggest thing for us.
“We talk to many of them regularly and give them inspiration for their next trip. When I came back from Antarctica, I contacted all of my regular clients that I know are interested in wildlife or scenery, or something different, and some came in to see my photos and videos.
“We ask a lot of in-depth questions. We really get to know our customers to build a good relationship with them and understand what their interests are, what they like to do, and what’s important to them. Some people want relaxation, some people want to explore. Some want food. All of our holidays are bespoke and we tailor them to each customer.
“Everyone at the store is a travel expert and are very well travelled, taking multiple trips each year to see new destinations or keep up-to-date with others.
“We’ve got a beautiful store. We offer Champagne along with a selection of drinks from our menu, so our customers can enjoy the whole experience with us. We take them on a journey from start to finish.”
Obviously, Antarctica isn’t on everyone’s Bucket List, but Nicole has seen a growing trend for Expedition Cruises.
She continued: “With Expedition Cruises, you often get involved with researchers and learn about the destination, rather than just going on holiday.
“On the Antarctica one, I collected samples, took part in lectures and learned all about Climate Change.
“But I think now, for us, it’s about educating people into different styles of trips, we have such a broad spectrum, from the Maldives, to Africa and everything in between.”
Nicole was delighted to have the chance for the company to sponsor DFC Women this season, citing the diversity of the club that attracted her to the opportunity.
She added: “Dartford is big on community and that’s something we are, too. We are a local hub in the area.
“The men and women’s teams are doing amazingly. We really like the fact that the club supports the Women’s team and the Academy players and that it’s a family club. It’s the perfect fit for us, because we offer a vast range of holiday destinations for all.”
For more information, pop into the Bluewater store, or visit the website to book an appointment at https://www.kuoni.co.uk
About Kuoni
“For over 100 years, we have been recognised as one of the world’s most inspiring travel companies because we genuinely want people to fall in love with their holidays. Our deep knowledge, combined with our contagious excitement, transforms complex information into inspiring insights, turning dream holidays into reality. We listen closely to your hopes and aspirations, ensuring every detail is perfect, adding those little ‘wow’ moments to make your journey seamless and filled with joy.”
