Experience

James Villa Holidays

• United Kingdom
• Travel Arrangements
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Product and Purchasing Manager

  • Sep 2018 - Present

  Management of ten established destinations within the James Villa Holidays portfolio. Refining the inventory and negotiating competitive rates to yield best ROI. Results since start date have been very positive.First 14 months in the role also saw the addition of a new destination to the JVH portfolio - Montenegro. This was achieved through a 4 phase process of NPD including concept generation, extensive market research, product selection alignment to consumer segment analysis to achieve greatest ROI, and effective launch to market.During covid-crisis, managing supplier relationships to maintain positive cooperation despite the challenges of restricted international outbound travel from UK.



Inghams

• United Kingdom
• Travel Arrangements
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Product Manager Switzerland & Germany

  • Aug 2016 - Aug 2018

• Product Manager Austria and Germany

  • Jun 2015 - Aug 2016

  • Responsible for broad Austria product range across summer and winter and Germany summer programme. Profit & loss of the product and achievement of annual passenger volume and profitability targets including deciding pricing strategies, flying plan and bed stock contracting briefs • Instrumental in developing the product / business with innovative new ideas and researching prospective resorts and properties to ensure the product range is current and in line with market trends and business opportunities. Consequently executing the new product into the Austrian / German portfolio once approved including copy-writing for web and paper brochures• Championing the product and USPs to trade, within the company and overseas including sourcing and negotiating PR trips for journalists and travel agents• Overseeing sales and availability of the ratio of beds and flight seats and liaising with hoteliers to source and negotiate special late offers to gain a competitive edge. Working closely with the Yield Control Team to increase sales into properties in conjunction with competitor analysis and providing information for training meetings • Personally tasked with Product maintenance and administration including maintaining and strengthening supplier relationships as well as liaison with overseas operating office• Responsible for ensuring deadlines are met and working closely with a number of departments including reservations, commercial, PR, guest services and marketing• Ensuring reservation system have been accurately loaded and maintained as per contracts and late dealsKey Achievements • Collaborating with the Assistant Product Manager to ensure brochure / web production targets are met • Managing and contracting own products including Treasures of The Danube cycling tour• Making a significant personal contribution to managing Beds-To-Seats ratio for the Lates Market

• Assistant Product Manager

  • Dec 2012 - Jun 2015

  As above in a supportive role

• Resort Manager

  • Dec 2011 - Sep 2012

  Resort Manager of Inghams’ busiest summer resort managing a team of three new Representatives and leading them to achieving over 90% guest satisfaction, as well as 67% increase in excursion sales from the previous Resort Managers performance over a 5 month period across 2,000 guests. Previously Resort Manager of a small winter resort, training and monitoring new representative and ensuring their performance to company standards

• Resort Representative

  • Nov 2009 - Nov 2011

  • Playing a pivotal role in delivering excellent guest satisfaction through a positive and professional approach and delivering comprehensive advice• Ensuring an up-to-date knowledge of all resort extras and promoting these to guests to enhance their overall experience• Overseeing that guests receive all aspects of their booked holiday and escorting them to and from the airport and to various eventsKey Achievements • Contributing directly to achieving record breaking results through effective sales presentations and excellent customer service delivery



Olympic Holidays

• United Kingdom
• Travel Arrangements
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Resort Representative

  • May 2007 - Sep 2009

  • Working during the summer vacations to deliver a high level of customer service and dealing with guests complaints as they arise• Ensuring a detailed knowledge of the destination and local attractions in order to promote to guests, in addition to selling excursions and car hire• Management of time and self organisation, as well as a high level of diplomacy to discerning guest • Working during the summer vacations to deliver a high level of customer service and dealing with guests complaints as they arise• Ensuring a detailed knowledge of the destination and local attractions in order to promote to guests, in addition to selling excursions and car hire• Management of time and self organisation, as well as a high level of diplomacy to discerning guest