Patricia Flatschacher Sales & Marketing Manager at Carinthia Convention Bureau
CAREER PATH:
After finishing my A-levels at a local high school for tourism I actually had no clue what job might be the right one for me. So I started a job in a lawyer’s office which quickly turned out to be too boring and less challenging for me. So I changed the company and started a job i a purchasing department of a large automotive company. Allthough this job wasn’t related to tourism industry at all I really liked it as I was part of a young and dynamic team. Anyhow this still seemed not to be enough for me and so after 4 years I decided to get back to the roots and started studying tourism management at the university in Vienna. After a short time I knew that the MICE industry might be the right thing for me. I still believe that it was kind of “meant to be” that I could start as a marketing assistance at Carinthia Convention bureau right after finishing university. Working for my home destination Carinthia, selling a beautyfull region and improving the MICE offer was the perfect job for me. Since 2013 I am now sales & marketing manager and I still love it.
Q: What is your favorite meetings brand?
Carinthia – what else? A MICE destination that has to offer so many different possibilities and options. Carinthia is an attractive MICE destination over the whole year. Located in the heart of the Alps Adriatic region it offers crystal clear, turquoise swimming lakes, soft green hills and mountains, culinary highlights as well as geniality and hospitality that are famous beyond the national borders. I am so proud of living in a place where other people go for holiday or business travels.
Q: What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
I think it is more important being authentic – but being authentic means being yourself and being yourself sometimes needs bravery.
Q: What’s your alternative career fantasy?
As my job is quite challenging I always need a possibility to calm down and recover. I can find this out in nature at beautiful long rides with my horse or in my garden. I love gardening and for me happiness is harvesting vegetables from my own back yard. So I could imagine being a gardener (or a cowgirl, if this can be seen as a career…)
Q: What are you obsessed with at the moment?
With this interview.
Q: Your goals before 50?
Career wise I would like to develop Carinthia to an internationally highly valuated and desired MICE destination. Personally my goals are very down to earth: Getting married, having kids and just being happy and lucky every day.
