Alan Richards Email & Phone Number

London

The role is responsible for the smooth running of the Destination Management team. This role involves managing and monitoring team workloads, assisting with training and making sure the Destination Management and Service Procurement team members perform efficiently and effectively their tasks and achieve all deadlines set.Sales and Clients• Provide direct and ongoing expert destination support for sales, quotations and customers when requiredOperations • To establish and develop relationships with key stakeholders across all functions of the business• Responsible to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and overall continuous growth in destination UK/Ireland • Manage ad hoc projects / tasks required to facilitate and improve the overall running of the team.• Responsible to ensure all processes, systems and SLA’s are strictly adhered to and ensure accuracy and timeliness are met by the team.• Provide active and ongoing support and knowledge transfer to hubs and the Kuoni Tumlare sales organisation• Responsible for handling escalations in a timely manner and provide solutions and support to the team.Planning and development• Coordinate destination strategy discussions with sales • Provide regular reporting, attend and participate relevant meetings with management and provide feedback as appropriateStaff Matters• Recruit, train, develop and motivate the team to ensure high levels of employee engagement• Ensure that continuous training processes are in place so that all staff have the skills and knowledge to comply with the common standards • Assess strengths and development needs of employees and provide access to timely, clear and objective coaching.Other• Provide support and/or cover for other departments when needed.

London, United Kingdom

Overall responsibility of running the London office. This needed to be done with a strong commitment to the company and its policies as well as with focus on staff matters, revenue, customer satisfaction, building of good relationships with suppliers and making sure that all agreed tasks within the local office are always carried out in accordance with Company policies.• Communication with clients and Sales Offices• Participating in fairs and events• Close contact with Sales Offices in order to promote the destination• Responsibility for all General Manager issues related to the Country.• Overall responsibility for all local functions as cruise, charter, MICE, product development etc.• Overall responsibility for service level agreements with local suppliers and securing a good relationship with local suppliers • Overall responsibility for service delivered by the local office• Overall responsibility for a good cooperation and relationship between local staff and Sales office Operations team• Overall responsibility of season preparations and postseason analysis • Overall responsibility of product development • Streamlining of work processes• Planning and development in connection with the strategy given from HQ.• Preparation and presentation of statistics • Staff training, development, Work load control and vacation planning• Salary negotiation with all staff in the local office• Development and update of all HR related issues as employment contracts, function descriptions, appraisal talk standards, work manuals, staff handbook, recruitment etc.• Responsibility for the overall profitability of the destination• Responsible for local budget and actions in connection with this• Maximise revenue in connection with tours planned by the local office• Responsibility for negotiating and utilisation of the best possible supplier contracts. • Representing and Cooperation with local authorities, local tourist-boards and others organisations

London, United Kingdom

Budgets, revenue and accounting• Negotiated competitive rates with transport operators, restaurants & visitor attractions. Both high end and lower end markets.• Monitoring tour budgets in order to increase revenue and minimise losses.Staff• Department manager containing 4 staff members, which deals with UK land arrangements for Japanese groups and individuals, both leisure and corporate. The department makes about 3,000 vehicle reservations per annum and about 400 separate meal reservations.Planning and development• Setting departmental timetables and schedules, which give clear dates for finalising reservations, brochure production (300,000 brochures across Japan) and coordinating data input. Operations• Operational control of all UK transportation movements, from coach planning, allocation and reconfirmation to problem solving.• Liaison with Japanese and European offices on a daily basis.• Maintained operational efficiency with proactive oversight and corrections.• Effectively manage frequent changes in requirements by the client and supplier• Emergency duty cover

London, England Metropolitan Area

- Management of the European transportation department for this American educational tour operator, from the initial contract to the reservation and coordination.- Daily interaction with suppliers, other European offices, Tour Managers and head office. - Preparation of tour documents and itineraries for multi-country tours.- Spent two periods in head office based in Philadelphia, totalling 9 months, firstly for Sales training, and then for the design, development and testing of new in-house system.- Ensuring all reservations are finalised for the tour, briefing and debriefing Tour Managers, and resolving all on-tour problems.

London, England Metropolitan Area

- Coordination of work schedules and duties for 40 representatives based in 8 London hotels and at the main London airports, for this major US coach tour operator.- Researched and compiled an information booklet on Tourist London used by the representatives.- Point of contact for Tour Directors before, during and after the tour.- Preparation of tour documents and itineraries for multi-country tours.- Daily interaction with suppliers, other European offices, Tour Managers and head office. - Allocation of guiding work to qualified London guides. - Responsible for solving all London coach operational and logistical problems

Higher National Diploma In Business Leisure Studies, Leisure Managment, Pass

A Levels In History, Politics And Government, Economics