Experience

The Midcounties Co-operative
• United Kingdom
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Manager

  • Aug 2018 - Present


Virgin Holidays

• United Kingdom
• Travel Arrangements
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Travel Consultant (Temporary Position)

  • Sep 2017 - Jul 2018

  I facilitate multiple clients by putting together holidays and recommending destinations. I assess clients’ needs and suggest suitable travel packages. I organise travel from beginning to end, including tickets, accommodation, and transportation. Key Achievement: Acting Area Manager in their absence I facilitate multiple clients by putting together holidays and recommending destinations. I assess clients’ needs and suggest suitable travel packages. I organise travel from beginning to end, including tickets, accommodation, and transportation. Key Achievement: Acting Area Manager in their absence



Thomas Cook

• United Kingdom
• Travel Arrangements
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Manager (Maternity Leave Cover – Temporary Role)

  • Jul 2016 - Sep 2017

  I have provided assistance in executing all daily operations including customer service provision, staff supervision and scheduling, complaint handling, and general administration and reporting. Key Achievement: - Developed the first and only cluster to achieve organisation yearend target I have provided assistance in executing all daily operations including customer service provision, staff supervision and scheduling, complaint handling, and general administration and reporting. Key Achievement: - Developed the first and only cluster to achieve organisation yearend target



Travel Counsellors

• United Kingdom
• Travel Arrangements
• 700 & Above Employee

• Self-Employed

  • Dec 2015 - Jul 2016

  I have successfully incorporated a home-based travel counsellor franchise from scratch. I have generated all sales leads with private customers through the execution of sales events, networking groups, advertising, sponsorship, and a degree of cold calling. Following re the highlights of my achievements: - Delivered a consistently exceptional standard of customer care; conducted home visits to gather requirements, researched available options which align with customer specifications including budget, and presenting potential solutions effectively. - Accurately booked all travel, accommodation, excursions for complex itineraries, used network of industry contacts to find the best possible experiences and opportunities for each customer. Show less



Thomas cook

• United Kingdom
• Travel Arrangements
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Cluster Manager

  • Jul 2013 - Nov 2015

  Proactively drove and delivered sales and profit in 3 Cluster Stores managing a team of 15 staff. Developed individual store action plans and local marketing initiatives and remotely managed and motivated store teams to achieve sales, revenue and passenger targets.- Nurtured new business opportunities and proactively managed supplier relationships with Travel Companies such as Disney and Princess Cruises- Consistently met challenging sales targets, through the structured management and development of a high performing team- Championed a consistent customer experience throughout the Cluster stores, leading by example and driving improved customer retention- Ensured all stores achieved consistent levels of delivery in line with corporate KPIs and comply with ATOL and ABTA regulations- Maintained tight cost control and manage store budgets effectively; accountable for the operational performance of all 3 Stores- Recruited, developed and led store staff; managed and coached Assistant Manager in each Store in sales management, maximising store performance etc.- Conducted interim and annual Staff Performance Reviews; developed Succession Plans and facilitated flexible working initiatives across the Cluster Show less

• Regional Cruise Executive, Derbyshire & Store Manager

  • Dec 2007 - Nov 2015

  A dual role acting as Derbyshire’s Regional Cruise Executive, managing the Cruise sales performance for the Region; activities included heading up lucrative PR events to promote cruising, generating over £260K per event. I also acted as the Thomas Cook Store Manager for the Sinfin Branch in Derby. This 7 person Travel Store turned over £3.5m a year.- In 2011-2012, achieved 13% over budget target for Sinfin store; plus my Region came 2nd place for Cruise performance within the Thomas Cook empire- Responsible for the Cruise sales in 32 regional Stores. Creation of Thomas Cook’s Regional Cruise Plan (for Derbyshire)- ACE Cruise Master. P&O, Cunard and Princess Commodores. RCI Admiral- Sought to increase Cruise sales through attending consumer facing events such as Regional Cruise shows and used other promotional initiatives to generate new business sales- Motivated Store staff to generate Cruise sales; provided practical training on how to sell a Cruise, the USPs of each Supplier (P&O, Cunard), how to use each Cruise booking system and how to “switch sell to a Cruise product”- Promoted Cruising offers at monthly Managers meetings and reported on the Region’s Cruise performance- Attended on-board Ship visits and Cruises with suppliers; such experiences gave first-hand knowledge of the actual ship/products. Detailed briefings were then given to each Store, so that they could confidently sell each Cruise product- Fully accountable for the Sinfin Branch’s sales, revenue and passenger targets. Along with the recruitment, motivation and leadership of the team- Acted in the capacity of Regional Business Manager during Manager’s absence Show less

• Travel Agency Manger

  • Dec 2007 - Jul 2013

  A dual role acting as Derbyshire’s Regional Cruise Executive, managing the Cruise sales performance for the Region; activities included heading up lucrative PR events to promote cruising, generating over £260K per event. I also acted as the Thomas Cook Store Manager for the Sinfin Branch in Derby. This 7 person Travel Store turned over £3,500,000 a year. • In 2011-2012, achieved 13% over budget target for Sinfin store; plus my Region came 2nd place for Cruise performance within the Thomas Cook empire• Responsible for the Cruise sales in 32 regional Stores. Creation of Thomas Cook’s Regional Cruise Plan (for Derbyshire)• ACE Cruise Master. P&O, Cunard and Princess Commodores. RCI Admiral• Sought to increase Cruise sales through attending consumer facing events such as Regional Cruise shows and used other promotional initiatives to generate new business sales• Motivated Store staff to generate Cruise sales; provided practical training on how to sell a Cruise, the USPs of each Supplier (P&O, Cunard), how to use each Cruise booking system and how to “switch sell to a Cruise product”• Promoted Cruising offers at monthly Managers meetings and reported on the Region’s Cruise performance• Attended on-board Ship visits and Cruises with suppliers; such experiences gave first-hand knowledge of the actual ship/products. Detailed briefings were then given to each Store, so that they could confidently sell each Cruise product• Fully accountable for the Sinfin Branch’s sales, revenue and passenger targets. Along with the recruitment, motivation and leadership of the team• Acted in the capacity of Regional Business Manager, during my Manager’s absence Show less



Ilkeston Co-op Travel

• Travel Agency Manager

  • Apr 2004 - Dec 2007

  Responsible for the delivery of a £7,000,000 sales Store target. Managed, motivated and led a team of 13 Sales staff:• The Store consistently achieved sales targets in both Travel and Foreign Exchange Divisions• Managed the team’s performance against KPI’s and sourced relevant skills training• Specific project responsibilities eg: proactively worked with Royal Caribbean to develop the Cruise Match Reservation system• Managed all the operational functions of the Store, from overseeing Health & Safety, to Finance/cashing up each day, through to scheduling staff rotas to activating the security alarm system each night Show less

• Travel Agency Manager

  • Dec 1997 - May 2004

  Delivered a £2,500,000 sales target, responsible for a team of 8 sales staff:• Accountable for the operation and commercial viability of the Long Eaton store• Team consistently achieved sales and passenger targets in the Travel Division. Targets were achieved for Foreign Exchange• Drove the team to deliver a positive customer experience; supported staff through structured customer service skills training