Guardian

Uloma Egbuna loved adventure as a child. Coincidentally, her father had a penchant for taking his children along on his numerous official trips, which exposed her early to other people’s cultures and lifestyles. So, when she stumbled into the travel and tour business over two decades ago, she was convinced that is her calling and an avenue for contributing her quota to the society. With diligence, vision and hard work, she has been able to take tour operation to an appreciable level and also build a good life for herself. The MD of Tour Brokers International recently told KIKELOLA OYEBOLA that it’s not so difficult to succeed and find fulfilment in life if only individuals would take the trouble to unearth their God-given talents and creativity.

ULOMA had a beautiful childhood. Not only were her parents loving and caring, they also ensured that they spent quality time with their children and bring them up in such a way that they can hold their own wherever they may find themselves in life.

Her father, who was a director with the Federal Ministry of Education, was always on the move, as he had to travel to every nook and cranny of Nigeria in the course of his work, and he delighted in exposing his children to other peoples and cultures. “We lived practically in all parts of Nigeria. I recall that he took us to Obudu Ranch in 1982 when it was still in its rural form. There was this narrow footpath and a bridge and father made all of us climbed it. He had tourism in him and it must have rubbed off on me,” she says.

In spite of the incessant travels, however, her parents made it clear that education occupies priority place in life. As such, the many travels became an essential part of the package aimed at building their self-esteem and shaping their lives.

If father was the one, who made all his nine children do funny things to bring out the best in them, mother on the other hand, was always on ground to ensure that all was well with her family and that the children imbibe values and virtues for a good life. She simply lived for her children. “Everything she does revolves round her children. She was a hands-on mum and a businesswoman,” she says.

Of all her siblings, Uloma was perhaps the only one who found it all enthralling. She loved the adventure and all that went with the many interesting trips. Being adventurous as a child, she was all for the trips and was always eagerly looking forward to them. Little did she know then that she was being prepared for a future career.

Her venture into the world of tour operation was, however, quite accidental. It all started when she was undergoing the one-year NYSC programme at the administration department of a construction company and a friend introduced her to Mrs. Biodun Ojutalayo, CEO, Abbey Travels and Tours.

And although she had no prior professional experience on the job, the management of Abbey Travel and Tours employed her all the same after the interview, probably sensing her adventurous nature. “Shortly after, I was part of a team that organised a trip for about 35 school children to Rio de Janeiro. That was my first experience in packaged tour,” she recalls.

Not only did that experience leave an indelible impression on her, she also perceived intuitively that that was her calling. So, after her second degree, she plunged headlong into the business and ever since, she has never for a moment regretted going into a field, which has also largely shaped her life.

As the Managing Director of Tour Brokers International (TBI), Uloma has ample opportunity to exhibit her ingenuity and dexterity in a business she is not only passionate about but also finds rewarding. She is quick to say though that she would still opt for her present job even if she were not earning a kobo.

But aren’t tour operators and travel agents the same? Uloma says there is a marked difference between these two businesses. While tour operators’ services are all encompassing and deal with every aspect of a client’s travel and needs until she/he is back home safely, travel agents’ scope of activities is limited to only when the client is planning to go on holiday or tour.

“There are many travel agents in Nigeria but tour operators are few. Tour Brokers International is a travel management that incorporates everything for the total satisfaction of our clients. Every step of the way, we are with our clients, taking care of their needs and ensuring their comfort is not compromised,” she says.

So, from the moment prospective clients indicate the desire to engage their services, Uloma’s organisation swings into action: Visas are procured, flights and hotels are booked and every little detail of the clients’ needs in-between is looked into and handled professionally. “As soon as out clients alight from the aircraft, there are waiting vehicles to ferry them from the airport to designated hotels that have been booked in advance and which suit their taste. We also help and oversee their itinerary so that everything works out according to plan and the client’s satisfaction.

“However, TBI doesn’t deal directly with individual clients. Rather, we prefer to do business with travel agents. Our focus is mainly on packaged tours and destination events,” she says.

That Uloma has acquired vast experience on the job would be stating the obvious. Having spent over two decades on the profession, she has become an authority. At the Hall of Reckoning in her office building, the walls are decorated with award plaques received from reputable airlines, authorities and the government in acknowledgement of her organisation’s dedication and quality services over the years. Has it always been this way?

“Like any other business, there was the inevitable teething period. But with determination and perseverance, we were able to survive. That is one thing I have learnt in life: the need for people to be dedicated, committed and focused in whatever they do, which is the only way to success. Nothing comes easy in life and individuals have to prepare their minds to give whatever it takes in terms of sacrifice and passion for the job. The secret to success has always remained the same—hard work, perseverance and the belief in self,” she says.

Curiously, there is no billboard or any other form of advertisement to indicate what goes on behind the cool, attractive exterior of the organisation’s headquarters in its highbrow location in Lekki. Why is this? “Tour Brokers International is not come one, come all. Our patronage is based heavily on referral. About 80 per cent of our patronage comes from satisfied customers who recommended us to others. The advertisement comes mainly from customers,” she says.

What are the benefits Uloma’s organisation offers different from that of a travel agent or even self-service? “Because we deal in bulks, we are able to get good negotiations with hotels, airlines and others in the chain so that at the end of the day, our clients pay far less than what they would normally have paid. They get everything at a cheaper rate.

“On hand to cater to the various needs of our clients while at their destinations are well-trained staff who have been well-equipped to carry out the task. They have destination knowledge, which involves travelling ahead of the clients and familiarising themselves with the terrain ever before the clients’ arrival,” she says. “They ensure that everything is laid out and well-planned before the clients get there. They also accompany the clients. Security of our clients is paramount. So, there is an insurance cover for our clients while on tour.”

Considering the hectic nature of her job, how has she been able to combine it with the running of her home? “My husband is the one I have to thank for that,” she says. “He has been such a strong support and if not for him and his understanding nature, I’m not sure I would have come this far. For instance, my job demands that I am ready to go 24/7. And no matter the part of the world a client(s) may be, I have to attend to the demands and needs. So, my husband is the one minding the home whenever I’m off on my frequent travels. He takes care of the children and ensures that all is well while I’m away. One thing though, I always make sure my presence is felt whenever I’m around.”

The business sounds exhilarating, is there any ugly side to it? “You can’t really call it ugly, but of course, there are the challenges, which come up once in a while because we deal with human beings and not objects. But these are the times one has to bring out ingenuity and creativity. On several occasions, I have had to create preferred ambience for clients in far-away countries just to make their trips memorable.

“We are a third party provider and when planning a trip, there are different components involved in the process over which we don’t have total control. So, as a tour operator, you have to learn to coordinate and do early processing, too. So, there are sometimes contingencies that have to be handled properly and this is where one has to be creative, far-seeing and spontaneous.”

Despite all this, however, she is still enthralled by it all. And as demanding as the job may be, she says she is really enjoying every bit of it. “There is nothing to compare to the gratitude in the eyes of clients or the satisfaction in their voice when they say ‘thank you for making my holiday/tour a memorable one.’

In Uloma’s view, Nigeria has a lot to offer than other West African countries when it comes to tourism. “It can only get better in Nigeria and there is a future for Nigeria as one of the best tourism centres in the world. Nigerians travel a lot and we should look inward and develop the tourism sector because if well handled, it could be a good source of revenue generation. We should, however, find lasting solutions to issues of security because nobody would want to go to a country where their safety is not guaranteed.”

Wanting to move with the innovations and demands of the industry, as well as become more efficient, TBI has had to departmentalise into four strategic units. These include TBI Cruises, which is fully dedicated to selling cruises. “We realise that a number of Nigerians are seeking other forms of holidays apart from the usual flying to a destination, booking into a hotel, going on organised tours, etc. Cruising is now the leading holidays of the century and we’ve decided to bring it home to Nigerians,” she says.

Tour Brokers Online is a booking portal that takes care of the retail aspect of the business. “With this, people are now able to plan their holiday packages and itinerary from the comfort of their homes or offices,” she says.

The recent appointment of Tour Brokers International as GTA’s General Sales Agent in Nigeria representing their interests in its effort to expand the African network necessitated the creation of the third unit. “GTA are pioneers in online travel portals and have efficiently distributed travel products to Travel Agents and Tour Operators for over 40 years.”

Then there is the TBI Groups and Incentives, which deals with only groups and incentive packages. “They organise destination events such as destination weddings, birthdays, trainings, seminars and board meetings. We’ve handled incentive groups as large as 1500 people per group and the unit is also responsible for sports groups and religious groups for pilgrimages.”

Uloma attended the Federal Government College, Onitsha before proceeding to the Federal School of Arts and Science for her A Levels. She obtained her first degree from the University of Calabar and her Masters from the University of Ibadan.

Tour Brokers International is jointly owned by GHI Assets represented by Olufemi Adefope who is also the Chairman and Bonne Prix represented by Uloma and her husband.