G Adventures new Global Purpose Specialist Joe Swatland talks about his first loves, famous clients and that moment he backhanded the boss.
I never travel without… a pack on Uno cards! Everyone seems to know how to play Uno, no matter where they’re from, and if you can communicate with them, you can have an argument about differing understandings of the rules!
When I was younger, I wanted to be… a sports coach. I love teaching and training, and very much love sport, but I also really enjoyed cooking, so made sure to do GCSE Food Tech for the enjoyment and to learn nutrition. I began competing in school competitions at 13 and that led me to The Savoy.
The famous person I’d most like to travel with is…Karl Pilkington. I think he’d be the ultimate ‘challenge’ when travelling, there’ll absolutely never be a dull moment, and experiencing new things with him would lead to a fair few stories, I’m sure.
My weakness is… buying food while travelling, which destroys my bank balance.
My mantra is… never stop learning. It doesn’t matter how much you think you know, there will always be more.
My hero is… (racing driver) Lewis Hamilton. I’m a big Formula 1 fan and his talent, commitment, drive for progress and how he conducts himself when facing the most controversial moments in the sports history are all admirable
The three things I’d take to a desert island are… a toothbrush, a lighter and a rubber dingy so I can paddle to freedom when I realize I’m out of my depth.
The restaurant I’d choose for a perfect date is… one with a great sharing menu and some adventurous choices. If someone won’t try new and exciting things with me then it won’t go very far. Bar Iberico in Nottingham is great
The thing I’m most proud of is… the amount I’ve achieved in my professional life as a chef, in travel and in business. There’s always a lot more I could’ve done, but looking back at 12-year-old me I don’t think many people would’ve assumed I’d go very far, including myself. I think he’d be very proud of me today.
The best thing about me is… I believe it’s my humour, but I’m constantly challenged on that view point and have been reminded a lot that I’m borderline delusional. I believe I may have set a record for the most eye rolls
My proudest moment was… my career start. I found employment as an apprentice chef at the Savoy Hotel when I was 15 and moved to London by myself as soon as I turned 16.
My biggest fear is…being bored. There’s so much to do, learn, see, experience. I’ve not tried nearly enough street food yet.
Born and brought up in… Leicester. I grew up in a town called Shepshed. I was eager to escape.
Live in… Nottingham. I moved here to start a new career in travel and joined STA Travel and now live in a village called Ruddington which I love. I am in no way responsible for STA’s collapse.
The most famous person I’ve met was… I was very lucky in my career as a chef. I’ve cooked for Michael Jackson, Margaret Thatcher, the late Queen, Rhianna, Vladimir Putin, Chelsea, Man Utd, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, the All Blacks, India Cricket… the list is much longer.
My biggest regret is…I believe it’s best to always look forward and to appreciate the different experiences you’ve had along the way. That said, I do regret accidentally backhanding Bruce (Poon Tip, G Adventures CEO) while at GX India. Fortunately, I was in disguise
The thing I miss most while travelling is… my bed to be honest. It feels very cliche, but having your own pillow, a bed moulded to you and a comforting and familiar smell of home is a big creature comfort (And I’ve been told I must also put my girlfriend Charlie).
