A man has been put in charge of the most Christmassy job on Earth - managing 200 elves and 38 entertainers as well as 200,000 reindeer, 1,000 sleighs, 350 snowmobiles and Santa.
Ben Christie is TUI’s Service Delivery Manager in charge of ensuring 37,000 Brits have the most magical time. Ben said: “We start preparations months in advance but now the pressure is on.
"We have 200 elves, 60 TUI reps and 38 entertainers awaiting the arrival of customers. It’s hard work but it’s magical and the team are one big family. I think I have one of the best jobs in the world."
TUI will commence its largest Lapland program in November with Brits set to make their way from nine regional airports on 169 TUI flights. More than 200,000 reindeer, 1,000 sleighs and 350 snowmobiles and the Big Man himself will be greeting customers when they start to arrive from November 30.
After working for TUI for more than 21 years Ben is now embarking on his third season as Service Delivery Manager in Lapland. “It tends to be the kind of destination people only visit once, and so my advice for anyone who is planning on visiting is to take in as much as you can, as it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience!” said Ben.
This season, 5,000 Brits will descend on Lapland for day trips to experience a festive packed itinerary starting with a visit to Kittilas Snow Village, which is home to an ice hotel, followed by sleigh and snowmobile rides, and a taste of tradition with a Lapland local telling old-aged stories and legends about the Lappish culture.
More than 32,000 customers will be staying for longer on three- or four-night breaks, with more time to experience all Lapland has to offer. For Ben and his team of elves, there is no such thing as a normal day in the most Christmasy place on earth.
“It’s usually always an early start to defrost the car and remove the ice and snow, and then we head to the airport to say goodbye to our guests and prepare to welcome new ones. I check in with the teams at the hotels to hear about experiences, and if I’m lucky I have time to say hello to the huskies, before having a meal with the team and going to bed to be ready to do it all again,” said Ben.
“Lapland is a truly magical place to work; where else can you spend your days off feeding reindeers, enjoying a husky ride or witnessing the Northern Lights. The experiences our guests have in Lapland are like no other, and you just know that everyone who visits is making memories which will last a lifetime. The children are awe-struck, and that’s why we all love to do it. It’s incredible to see the smiles on everyone’s faces as they arrive and leave, knowing that we played a part in bringing the magic to life."
169 flights will take off this season from nine regional airports including Manchester, London Gatwick, Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, Dublin, Bristol, Newcastle and Stanstead.
TUI UK&I Commercial Director Phillip Iveson said: “Lapland has always been one of our most treasured destinations for TUI, as we know how much it means for our customers. We know that people save and plan far in advance so it’s our commitment to ensure they don’t worry about a thing. Our homeworking retail team endeavour to call everyone that has booked online instead of in store to talk them through their trip.
“This year due to popular demand we’ve increased the number of flights to ensure more Brits can experience the magic that is Lapland. It’s a place where dreams such as seeing the Northern Lights, meeting Santa in his home and husky sleigh-riding in the snow becomes a reality”.
