Connecting villa holiday consumers, rental agencies and property owners. A truly independent, impartial service, matchmaking customers with their perfect rental experience.Providing consultancy services to rental agencies, management companies and property owners.

Joining as a member of the Senior Management Team, my role encompasses all aspects of the day-to-day-sales and operational aspects of this boutique Ibiza focussed luxury villas rental business. Lead role on developing strategic partnerships, business development and defining and leading the property recruitment requirements of the business in Ibiza, Formentera and Mykonos.

Leading the contracting, sales and operations of private luxury villas in Spain and France and introducing a UK program to the bespoke, luxury travel business. The company only recruits senior, experienced travel professionals, with a managerial background to represent the brand and develop their programs with sole responsibility. Sales of the previously under-achieving Spanish portfolio increased +130% within 18 months of beginning my role.

Overall responsibility for delivering sales across 4 businesses; Tour Operations, Villas & Ski, Harrods and City Stores. Strategic leadership of General Managers, Sales Managers and an Operations Manager and as member of the Abercrombie & Kent Ltd executive team responsibility for delivering upon the overall business strategy. Setting and reporting on Sales Incentive plans for 80 staff, Objectives, KPI’s, SLA’s and defining processes for growth.

Leadership of the villas & ski operation, with P&L responsibility, defining the strategy and fixing budgets. My successes lead to a position on the Abercrombie & Kent Ltd Executive Team with the villas & ski division reporting the highest growth across all UK businesses in 2015, achieving 126% of budget.Budgetary control across 3 offices and setting objectives for direct reports and US based Sales Directors. Turned a loss-making business into a highly profitable operation resulting with the award of the UK Conde Nast Readers’ Villa Rental Agency of the Year in 2013, 2014 & 2015.Overall responsibility for delivering the company objectives and operating profit targets providing continued, strong sales growth of, on average +30% in 4 consecutive years.

Staff recruitment, training and development – successfully moulding and training a new team with a new product line.Managing the sales team’s workload and setting individual KPI’s, incentive schemes and appraisals.Achievement of 40% YOY sales revenue increase in 2011. Managing key travel agency accounts including overseas sales trips, implementing and agreeing commission and over-ride schemes and specific marketing strategies in order to generate sales.

Sole responsibility for the sales of a new brand within the Abercrombie & Kent portfolio, developing sales to just under £1 million, inside 2 years, from a starting point of £50,000. Designing, implementing and controlling file management systems, to ensure profit margins are achieved consistently.Weekly and monthly reporting of enquiries, bookings and conversion rates, in multi currencies and assisting in designing marketing strategies to improve sales in low and mid-season periods.

Responsibility for researching, designing, costing, quoting and operating ad-hoc special interest group tours for groups from 10 up to 250 within the luxury travel market. Responsible for managing accounts worth up to £250,000 per tour, operating group tours and events across Europe, providing detailed pre-tour documents, arranging all ground services including hotels, transport, flights, meals, sightseeing, gala dinners, local guides and Tour Directors. Tours organised to Hungary and Russia for WPO (World President’s Organisation), CCFR (Chicago Council on Foreign Relations) across Europe and an event in Dublin for 250 members of the International Academy of Estate & Trust Law.

Operating group brochure tours to France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and U.K. Negotiating rates, finalising costings, proving guide packs and reconfirming all arrangements. Financial accountability, monitoring payment schedules and efficient payments to suppliers.

Responsible for planning and taking lessons for pupils aged 11-18 in mixed comprehensive schools. Two-month teaching placement at Balcarass School, Cheltenham, and two-month teaching placement at Farmor’s School, Fairford. Without having the genuine passion for teaching, I returned to the travel industry with some incredible experiences.

Selling and co-ordinating all aspects of educational tours for U.K. school groups travelling across Europe. New product development and continual researching of new destinations. Successful introduction of football tours to the product portfolio upon own initiative. Efficient organisation and execution of all tour booking arrangements for over 100 groups annually with post tour follow up and troubleshooting as required.