20 Questions With Lesley Keyter, Founder, The Travel Lady

Lesley Keyter describes herself as the face of travel in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She founded her agency South Travel/The Travel Lady in 1995. Every week since 1997 she has been featured live on the Morning News of Global TV, Calgary’s primary morning TV show, and is frequently interviewed as a travel expert across many local and national media channels as well as being an invited lecturer at the University of Calgary. Widely known as “The Travel Lady”, she is recognized as the leading vacation expert in Southern Alberta. Born in England, Lesley grew up in South Africa. She travels often and has extensive knowledge of East and Southern Africa, Australia, and much more. She is an avid cruiser with deep knowledge of the most popular ocean and river cruise lines. Lesley is frequently invited to review new vacation destinations, resorts and cruise ships. Within this busy schedule she still finds time to be the president of an award-winning leisure travel company in Calgary. She is also a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality! In this spotlight, we asked her a series of questions about her work, travel, goals, leadership philosophies and more so you can get to know her better.

1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?   
   The final book of the "Seven Sisters" by Lucinda Riley. I have done a lot of plane travel the last couple of months and these books were a godsend.
2. What do you love most about the industry? 
   Travel – talking about it, selling it, doing it. There is no doubt it is a sexy industry.
3. What is something the community may be surprised to learn about you?
   I am actually quite shy and when I got the chance to appear live on television I really had to conquer that fear. People still don’t believe me.
4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge? 
   When someone messes up I take it very personally as I always want my team to be the best. I know they want to be the best but we all make mistakes and when we have to talk about those mistakes I hate to see how this might deflate someone’s confidence.
5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
   Acknowledge their successes, share my failures (we are all just human), be there for them and be seen to be there for them.
6. What woman inspires you right now and why? 
   Arlene Dickenson of Dragons Den. She comes from South Africa where I grew up.  She came to Canada with nothing and on her own without any network or influence rose to be a fantastic businesswoman.
7. Where do you believe the future of the industry is headed? 
   More high touch. We have had our glory days of online booking. Even for simple packages people want to deal with a travel agent.
8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a potential candidate? 
   The ability to communicate, the ability to laugh, and a deep curiosity about the world.
9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
   I never want to retire. I don’t bake, I don’t sew. I love my job.
10. What’s your favorite podcast? 
    "Crime Beat" by Nancy Hixt. Hixt was a reporter with Global News and gave me great hints for creating my own audio studio by using my closet. Since Covid I have done weekly “Closet Talks” which have continued long after covid.
11. What values are most important to you as a leader? 
    Humility, honesty, and leading by example.
12. What's the most important thing people should know about you? 
    I very rarely lose my temper but when I do ... stand back!!
13. Do you prefer to work in the office, at home, or hybrid? 
    Definitely the office. We truly work together as a team.
14. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to?
    It's very hard to pick a place. My most recent trip was Edinburgh. I loved it. My favorite exotic location was India.
15. What is a top item on your bucket list? 
    Antarctica.
16. What do you do to recharge? 
    Work out at the gym.
17. What is your biggest accomplishment? 
    Getting my bachelor's degree with honors while I was pregnant with my youngest child.
18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Don’t take any crap. We have struggled to get here and we are here to stay.
19. What gets you up in the morning? 
    A cup of hot expresso served to me in bed by my lovely husband ????
20. What do you like most about being a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality? 
    Sharing and caring.

If you would like to become a Women Leading Travel & Hospitality member or need additional information about our organization, click here.