Staff Interview with Gaz Lloyd

Get to know Gapforce's staff!

What inspired you to work for Gapforce?

I was initially drawn to Gapforce by their Expedition Leader Training Course which had the promise of an adventurous jungle experience followed by a foot into the industry with work opportunities for high performing candidates.

Since my successful completion of the course I've been proud to be a representative of Gapforce's high ethical standards whilst leading like-minded people to a wide variety of destinations. A lot of work goes into making each trip well balanced and maximizing the participant experience too.

Why do you do what you do?

To quote Harrison Ford, "I wanted to live the life, a different life. I didn't want to go to the same place everyday and see the same people and do the same job."

What is your favorite part of your job?

The number of "pinch yourself" moments you have to make sure you aren't dreaming and this is really your life. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found something that gives me such a rich and fulfilling existence. As an instructor on Gapforce's Expedition Leader Training Course it's a pleasure to be a part of unlocking that potential for other future leaders and seeing them grow.

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

My path through education has been broad, largely owing to the fact that for a long time I wasn't aware that the job of expedition leader even existed. I'm a firm believer that the only way you can learn what you like and is the right fit for you is to just keep trying things.

And so whilst studying graphic design, earth science, archaeology, mythology and personal training (not all at the same time!) I inadvertently was equipping myself with a good foundation of knowledge and appreciation for the natural world and ancient civilizations I'd one day be leading people to.

With the graphic design background I've found I've been able to offer media services as a freelance part of the Gapforce office team and my fitness industry experience has helped me throw together beach boot camps for groups and keep on top of my own fitness while traveling.

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

Go sooner, for longer, and pack lighter. It will be the best investment in yourself you make and pay dividends for the rest of your life and influence how you approach life choices.

Why should someone choose Gapforce over competitors?

Our leaders have all gone through the same intense and wholesome training experience. Nobody comes out of it the same person that started. It's an amazing chance for personal development rather than just learning the hard skills for leading in extreme environments.

Because of this they really understand the importance of making memorable, transformative experiences for participants on trips they lead, whilst always having their safety in mind.

What hopes do you have for the future for Gapforce?

After a tough 2 years for the travel industry through the pandemic, I really hope to see Gapforce flourish coming out of it and for us to grow our portfolio of destinations even more.

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

I always hope to inspire people in one way or another. Whether it be to go home with a greater understanding of the world or themselves, or to have found a sense of drive and direction. For some it might be to have just opened their eyes and ignited a passion for exploring new places, meeting new people and trying new things.

I'd consider it a failure on my part if someone came away from it with nothing more than some holiday snaps.

If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?

Ask any Gapforce leader this and I believe their answer will be the same: to repeat the Expedition Leader Training as though doing it for the first time. Nothing has come close to that same sense of trepidation and excitement meeting the group for the first time, not knowing what adventures the next 4 months would hold, what strong friendships you'd make along the way or what lifestyle would lie at the end of it.

That being said, I'm always keen to expand my experience so any destination I've not been to before is always top of my list.

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

I have another favorite quote that answers this most eloquently from a Terry Pratchett book, "Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving."

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

Consider your impact. We might be lucky enough to live at a time where you can get anywhere in the world in 24 hours, but think about things like your carbon footprint. Social media is great for sharing lifestyle photos in the hope of becoming an influencer, but influence can be raising awareness of issues rather than creating beach envy. And above all, please avoid animal tourism.

Other than that, pack lighter than you think you need to and enjoy yourself without any of the confines of your home environment.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

When traveling to a new place I like to feel as though I've experienced it from the perspective of a tourist (unavoidable), perspective of the locals, and seen the country's raw, wild, natural self away from the impact of people. Less than this always feels superficial to me and like I've missed something.

How is your company handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?

Our programmes have all been updated to take into account the Covid safety measures we've all become used to living with. This means that every effort has been made to provide sufficient hygiene and sanitation facilities and the ability to maintain social distancing at accommodation, on transport and during activities.

Details on the processes that will be followed are made available to participants before departure and there are regular briefings from the leader throughout to ensure everyone knows how to conduct themselves safely every step of the way.