60 Second Interview: Will Hasler
Welcome to 60 Second Interviews. Here you can get to know a little more about some of the business travel industry’s most successful buyers, suppliers, and practitioners in just one minute.
Will has been in the travel industry for more than 25 years; he has performed a variety of roles for airlines and GDS before joining PwC as their HRG outsourced UK Travel Manager in 2004. Together with Mark Avery, he has created what many believe to be a class leading UK travel management programme. Will chairs the ITM Industry Affairs Group.
Name: Will Hasler
Firm: PwC
Position: Business Travel Manager
Member of ITM Board: 4 years, next month.
Hobbies: Home. Committee member at my local cricket club. I also enjoy running (slowly), and cycling pub tours in the summer with my missus.
One Interesting fact about yourself: The old man says that I’m apparently distantly related to Helena Bonham Carter, but just in case her laywers are reading this, this may be factually incorrect.
Firm: PwC
Position: Business Travel Manager
Member of ITM Board: 4 years, next month.
Hobbies: Home. Committee member at my local cricket club. I also enjoy running (slowly), and cycling pub tours in the summer with my missus.
One Interesting fact about yourself: The old man says that I’m apparently distantly related to Helena Bonham Carter, but just in case her laywers are reading this, this may be factually incorrect.
How did you get into the business travel industry?
I sought advice after three years working straight from school, and was told to get a qualification and then see where I wanted to operate. I saw the GDS and airline worlds internationally, before arriving at PwC.
What does your role involve?
Mostly managing suppliers, booking channels, and our travellers/bookers. I also continually communicate (in person and virtually) with all stakeholders, including operations directors in the business, and industry peers and colleagues in other territories.
What are you working on at the moment?
Cost control challenges (plus ITM Industry Affairs work of course!). We also recently moved away from Lotus Notes last November, and are wrestling with the world of Google.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in business travel?
Be prepared for constant change.
Quick Fire Questions
1. What do you enjoy most about your role?
The variety, plus the challenge.
2. What frustrates you about the business travel industry?
The speed that things are moving with technology in the B2C marketplace are not replicated with B2B.
3. Where’s your favourite holiday destination?
I’ve been privileged to travel all over the world, and I’m quite elderly - that’s about 45+ countries. Cape Town was fantastic. Muscat was a great memory too from my time working in the Middle East. Sydney, Brighton, and San Francisco have a great vibe like many of the cities on the coast. I think, like people, most destinations have something to offer you - including Milton Keynes!
4. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you take with you?
Music - iPhone with solar power (with Wi-FI being only available one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon so I could be told when I would be rescued), weather-proof grand piano so I could learn to play early Elton John, and finally a pair of everlasting running shoes.
5. If I had that magic wand and could change one single thing, what would it be?
Rid the world of hate and prejudice of course!
Will is Chair of the ITM Industry Affairs Group, a Buyer committee tasked with developing a platform for greater collaboration across the supply chain. If you would like to get involved, please view our Working Parties page or email secretariat@itm.org.uk.
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