A Brit who dreamed of becoming a holiday rep as a teenager has finally landed the job – 56 years later at the age of 73.
While many pensioners are putting their feet up, Jeff Locke-Lavell swapped retirement in the UK for a new life in the Majorcan sunshine after joining TUI as a holiday rep.
Jeff first dreamed of becoming a holiday rep while holidaying in Cornwall aged 17.
Now working at the luxury TUI BLUE Sensatori Biomar, Palma on the east coast of the island, Jeff says the move has given him a new lease of life.
Jeff believes his age has become one of his biggest strengths in the role.
He said: “I find as the older person on the team, people are willing to open up to me and also listen.
“That makes getting to the root of what they need a lot easier.
“Guests often ask why I do it. I tell them to look around, look at my office”
He’s even learning to scuba dive for the first time.
“I thought I’d be slowing down at my age,” he said.
“Instead, I’ve started a completely new chapter and I’m happier than ever.
“I remember being on holiday in Cornwall as a kid and looking at the people working there.
“I thought, one day I’d love to do that.
“I just never imagined I’d actually be doing it in my seventies.
“It’s funny how life works out.
“I thought my best years were behind me, but it turns out they were only just getting started.”
Before moving abroad, Jeff spent decades working in London’s hospitality industry.
He worked in hospitality for around 20 years in various roles before later running pubs.
He said: “It was a busy life.
“There were long hours, lots of responsibility and always being on the go.
“I loved it, but it’s very different to the life I have now.”
Jeff and his wife, Sarah, first fell in love with Spain during visits to Nerja, where her parents moved more than a decade ago.
The couple eventually bought a renovation project nearby and planned a quieter future abroad.
Jeff said: “The idea was that I’d retire and spend my time renovating the house.
“But life had other ideas.”
Sarah landed her dream role with TUI as a Kids Club rep, working in destinations including Benidorm, Lapland and Majorca.
The role often meant the couple spent long periods apart – and led to Jeff deciding to try his hand at the job, too, remembering how enamoured he’d been as a lad.
He was stunned when he got the job.
Jeff said: “I honestly couldn’t believe it.
“At my age, you don’t expect someone to say yes.
“But they did and it’s the best thing that’s happened to me.”
At the resort, Jeff is at the heart of the guest experience, welcoming holidaymakers, sharing local recommendations and helping create memorable breaks.
This year, TUI BLUE is celebrating its 10th anniversary, with the hotels becoming increasingly popular thanks to their all-in, wraparound approach to holidays.
Jeff said: “We’re called ‘makers of happy’ and that really sums it up.
“Everything is taken care of for guests from the moment they arrive, so they can properly switch off and enjoy themselves.
“It’s a lovely feeling knowing you’ve helped make somebody’s holiday special.”
His days are packed with everything from welcome meetings to helping guests book TUI Musement experiences across the island.
Jeff said: “I love the variety.
“One minute I’m chatting to a family about things to do and the next I’m pointing couples towards hidden gems across Majorca.
“No two guests are the same.
“Some want total relaxation, while others want adventure.
“My job is to work that out and help make it happen.”
Among Jeff’s favourite recommendations are Palma, the mountains around Sóller and boat trips along the coastline.
He added: “If you want to see the real Majorca, I’d always encourage people to get out and explore – there are some incredible places here.
“The island has so much more to offer than people expect.”
And when they aren’t working, Jeff and Sarah spend their time exploring the island together – always discovering new spots, and even working on ticking items off his own bucket list.
Jeff said: “I’ve recently started learning to scuba dive.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but never had the confidence to try.
“This job has given me that push.
“People think opportunities like this are only for young people, but that’s simply not true.
“If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, whether that’s a new job, moving abroad or trying something completely different, I’d say go for it.
“Life’s too short to spend your time wondering ‘what if?’.
“I never thought I’d get to live out a childhood dream in my seventies – but here I am.”
