Greg Thurston Email & Phone Number

Matlock, Gb

Witney, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Cox & Kings are the world’s oldest travel company, specialising in luxury small group tours and tailormade travel to over 100 destinations worldwide. I am solely responsible for developing sales growth through both existing and new business partnerships, including independent and multiple retail outlets, OTA’s, homeworkers and other 3rd party travel sales channels. Key functions:- Business development - Account management- Trade marketing- Incentive schemes- Trade fam planning- Trade website development

Bromley, United Kingdom

Funway Holidays are one of the UK’s leading USA specialist operators, my role is to increase market share through independent retail & OTA business partners in the UK for their Sandals Resorts programme.Responsibilities & achievements:> Account management and strategic sales development with business partners; including, but not limited to, creation of sales & marketing plans, commercial negotiations, implementation of unique counter-staff incentives and implementation of online sales strategy via XML. > Identified and secured a number of key accounts as part of a newly created commercial partnership programme. Including all major independent retail & home-worker organisations such as CTTG, Advantage, Worldchoice, Hays and Global.> Achieved YOY passenger and revenue growth of over 50%.> Created and launched a number of trade incentives and initiatives.> Managed the trade sales and marketing via liaison with Sandals head office.> Developed and implemented internal quarterly strategic sales and marketing plans.> Creation of weekly sales/budget reports and forecasts.> Extensive site visits and in-resort training.

London

The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum is a £20m attraction in London’s west end. I was solely responsible for growth of revenue and volume through trade partners.Responsibilities & achievements:> UK & Worldwide trade account management and business development> Significantly increased revenue through key accounts such as Expedia, Lastminute.com, Original Tours, Golden Tours, Superbreak & Encore Tickets. > Secured new accounts such as group operators and language schools.> Forged new relationships with tour operators through associations with UK Inbound, Visit Britain and Visit London.> Successfully packaged our product with local restaurants, attractions and services.> Set up revenue generating ticketing operation through our retail premises for sale of London tourist products, such as bus tours, attractions and theatre tickets

Farnborough

Explore are Europe’s leading adventure travel company, providing “off the beaten track” group tours in 137 countries around the world. Responsibilities & achievements:> UK & Ireland key account management, business development and trade sales> Generated an increase of over 100% in trade revenue and volume> Organisation of the company’s presence at trade shows and exhibitions and the effective running of yearly consumer roadshows> Management of 1 field sales exec, 1 admin and promotional teams of 3-6> Personally responsible for negotiation of commercial agreements at all levels. Including major accounts such as Thomas Cook, CTTG, Hays, Advantage & Travel Counsellors> Management of partnerships using XML feeds> Training management for travel agents - including development and creation of an online training program - www.adventuretravelexpert.co.uk> Creation of effective sales incentives > Online and offline trade advertising and communications> Organisation of familiarisation trips in cooperation with airlines and tourist boards > Brochure distribution management> Monthly sales reports and presentations for the plc board> Sourcing new non-retail sales partnerships such as Saga, Buyagift and BSkyB

Develop sales of VIP Backpacker's products through new and existing accounts within the UK youth travel market. Win new UK, European and North American hostel accounts and develop marketing plans with each. Co-ordinating marketing and advertising plans though partners and in traveller publications such as TNT.

Ba (Hons), Marketing

Education record