Staff Spotlight: Alistair Taylor

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Product and Marketing Executive
Welcome to the mind of Alistair Taylor, BUNAC’s legendary product and marketing executive - he is very pleased to meet you. Alistair knows every word of Forrest Gump and loves to introduce his flatmates to haggis (thanks to his Scottish dad). He chats to us about his job role, his near-death experience in Vietnam and what BUNAC program he would go on if he had the chance.

Alistair trekking his way to  Everest

What’s your position at BUNAC?

I’m the product and marketing executive. The job involves looking after various suppliers we work with around the world and managing the accounts. I also put new programs and products live on our website and develop our existing programs to make them perform better. That’s all the product side of things. From a marketing perspective, I take part in any campaigns and develop marketing strategies to improve the sales of our products.

What do you love most about your job?

I really enjoy gaining insight into the business. Working on both products and marketing means I have quite a varied job role. I can see how a company like BUNAC works, which is definitely the most interesting part.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I climbed into the Eye of the Storm in Vietnam – it was monsoon season so the clouds came in and we were trekking at one of the highest peaks in Vietnam. It was torrential and the loudest thunder of noise shook every organ in your body. It was a rescue mission to get down the mountain alive – but it was so good! Another one is being in Switzerland, sitting in a hot tub drinking beers with some new international friends I’d met. Beers, laughter, snowy peaks and starry skies – it was wicked. The third is trekking Nepal and feeling great reaching base camp at the end of the day.

If you could go on any BUNAC program what would it be and why?

I would go on Work America and I really regret not knowing about it when I was at university. It would’ve been the perfect way to make money, make friends and travel. Everyone wants to fill up their summer when they're studying and I really like the concept of this program.

Any traveling tips or advice for first-time travelers?

Don’t think about it just do it! I never plan and I just have an idea of where I want to go and I figure it out when I get there. It always figures itself out, always!

What does the future hold for BUNAC?

BUNAC is obviously an established company and the future is endless. Travel is always changing and the target market of a traveler is always changing. As long as BUNAC is able to adapt to the change of traveling too, there’s no cap on where the company could go.

Any future traveling plans?

I want to work my way across the world. Australia, New Zealand and Canada are my biggies, but I want mini trips between whilst I’m in those countries too. I like to set myself a challenge every year, so next up is the Ritual Run from the North to the South of India. The second would be the Mongolian Rally, where you buy a banger car and race it from the UK to Mongolia. I also deserve to go to a beach at some point too so we’ll chuck that in there. (Laughs)