Careers
Travel Trade Gazette
Stories with this category.
Scammers steal identity of travel jobs website
Wed, 22 Jun 2011
Agent job hunters are being warned about a scam affecting online recruitment agencies
My Travel Career: John Warr
Wed, 15 Jun 2011
John Warr, head of retail sales, Thomas Cook, shares his career history with us
Get Ahead: CV tips
Wed, 15 Jun 2011
Angus Chisholm, managing director at C&M Recruitment, offers some tips on how to ensure that your CV always ends up on the “must interview” pile
Co-op Travel's sponsored academy opens
Mon, 13 Sep 2010
The first academy school sponsored by The Co-operative Travel is officially opened in Stoke-on-Trent today.The Co-operative Academy at Brownhills is one of five new academy schools being developed in the Staffordshire town, which is also home to Co-op Travel’s headquarters.Co-op Travel is the main sponsor for the publicly funded academy which will specialise in business, maths and computing.
Ourmieres made CityJet boss
Thu, 2 Sep 2010
Former Air France UK general manager Christine Ourmières has been appointed chief executive of CityJet.Ourmieres will start at the Air France subsidiary on October 1 and will also be appointed to the board of directors of the airline.Chairman Pat Byrne, who has been acting as chief executive for the last month, said he was delighted to appoint Ourmieres.She joined ...
Leeds wins ITT Excellence status
Wed, 9 Jun 2010
Leeds Metropolitan has been named as the first university to win full ITT Centre of Excellence accreditation.The university’s new status was announced today at the ITT conference in Benidorm, and follows a rigorous assessment programme.ITT board director Claire Stainer said the institute was doing what it could to promote tourism as a career.“Any university is welcome to ...
Barrhead ups cash incentive
Mon, 7 Jun 2010
Barrhead Travel is increasing the cash incentive it pays staff to nominate potential candidates for jobs in the company.The independent Scottish agency chain will now pay £350 as a cash reward after the new recruit completes three months service – an increase of £100.Barrhead Travel human resources manager Wilma Taylor said the group was expanding so was on the lookout ...
TTG appoints new sales director
Wed, 21 Apr 2010
TTG sales director Deborah Dewe is leaving TTG after 10 years' service to join World Travel Market as head of sales.Deborah DeweSheryl MakinShe
Mike Greenacre re-elected to Abta board
Thu, 15 Apr 2010
The Co-operative Travel boss Mike Greenacre has been re-elected to the Abta board after polls closed last night.Abta did not give out voting percentages but it is thought Greenacre secured a high margin over On The Beach commercial director Johnny Polllard.Greenacre will now continue to represent Abta members with a turnover of more than £20 ...
Walsh 'hopeful' BA staff will accept new contract
Tue, 13 Apr 2010
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has told staff he “genuinely” believes a new offer on pay and staffing levels will be acceptable to the cabin crew union Unite.The airline has put forward the proposals to avoid a repetition of the strikes in March that cost the carrier up to £45 million.Walsh tols staff he is now waiting ...
Co-op offers staff £300 in recruitment referral drive
Fri, 9 Apr 2010
The Co-operative Travel is offering staff vouchers worth up to £300 to recommend candidates for vacancies in the company.Any employee who nominates a successful recruit can receive the vouchers.Recruitment manager Paula Turner said: “We get access to the best candidates and drive down the cost of recruitment, while our employees get the satisfaction of involvement in the recruitment process alongside ...
Holidaybreak appoints new chief
Thu, 1 Apr 2010
Holidaybreak has appointed Martin Davies as group chief executive, replacing Carl Michel, who left in July.Davies is currently managing director of Holidaybreak’s Education Division, which was formed after he led the sale of his then employer, schools adventure operator PGL, to Holidaybreak in 2007.Davies takes up his role from April 19. John Coleman, who has undertaken the ...
Former Opodo boss joins Monarch
Wed, 31 Mar 2010
Former Opodo boss Simon Tucker is joining Monarch Travel Group as chief financial officer.Tucker was interim chief executive and chief financial officer of the online agent, before joining the Telegraph Media Group as finance director.Monarch Airlines managing director Tim Jeans said Tucker’s appointment as group finance boss ...
EasyJet appoints new chief executive
Wed, 24 Mar 2010
EasyJet has appointed Guardian Media Group boss Carolyn McCall as its new chief executive.McCall, 48, will replace Andy Harrison who is leaving the airline to become chief executive of Whitbread, which owns the Premier Inn chain of hotels.McCall has been with Guardian Media Group, publisher of The Guardian and The Observer newspapers, ...
Speakman lays down challenge
Thu, 25 Feb 2010
Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman has challenged rival homeworking firms to “put up or shut up” after claiming his staff were being targeted in “underhand” tactics by recruitment companies. Speakman called on the recruitment companies, and the homeworking firms they work for, to appear on Travel Counsellors’ in-house television channel to debate who offered staff the ...
Kavanagh appointed as Qatar Airways HR boss
Mon, 1 Feb 2010
Former Carson Wagonlit Travel human resources boss Sue Kavanagh has joined Qatar Airways.Kavanagh (pictured) has joined the airline as its human resources manager UK and Ireland. She will report to UK and Ireland manager Rachel Finn.She left her role as human resources director for northern Europe at Carlson Wagonlit Travel in July ...
Holidays4U appoints sales boss
Mon, 1 Feb 2010
Turkey specialist Holidays4U has recruited Joe Lavers in the new position of sales and marketing director. Lavers, whose previous role was sales and marketing manager for Goldtrail, joins Holidays4U as part of its strategy to increase its trade presence and improve relationships with the trade.Managing director Karen Vyse said: "Joe Lavers has considerable experience of the travel trade, ...
Industry backs £2m training academy
Fri, 29 Jan 2010
Top travel bodies and companies have joined forces with People 1st to put together a bid for £2 million of government cash to create a national skills academy for travel and tourism.Hoseasons Holidays, Tui UK, Thomas Cook, Co-operative Travel Group, Advantage Travel, Abta and ITT are among those who are backing the ...
CHTA Marketplace: Starwood expands in Puerto Rico
Tue, 12 Jan 2010
Starwood Caribbean Collection is to open two new properties in Puerto Rico this year.W Retreat & Spa Vieques Island is slated to open on March 1, though Lourdes Hainlin, director of leisure sales for Starwood Caribbean Collection, hinted that it could open early.It is only the second W Retreat in ...
Cosmos appoints McDonough as sales chief
Tue, 15 Dec 2009
Cosmos Holidays has appointed Damian McDonough as sales director.Sunderland-born McDonough (pictured) returns to the operator from Holiday Taxis, where he was head of new business, having previously held the position of national sales manager in 2003. He has replaced Gordon McCreadie who has joined Travel ...
Darren Panto founds travel PR firm
Tue, 15 Dec 2009
Former Peltours sales director Darren Panto has founded a PR and representation company targeting the UK travel and hospitality industries.Panto, who left the Egypt and Middle East specialist tour operator in July, said Darren Panto Associates would work with operators, resorts, hotels and tourist boards.He said: “[The company] ...
Miss Ellies boss Ellie Doherty to retire
Mon, 14 Dec 2009
Travel recruiters report upturn in job vacancies
Thu, 10 Dec 2009
Travel recruitment companies are reporting strong signs of a recovery in the jobs market as more firms look to recruit. Pay freezes and redundancies have dominated the headlines in travel and other industries this year but recruitment agencies have seen a steady improvement since late summer. Some firms, such as Travel Trade Recruitment and C&M Recruitment, have seen their stock of vacant ...
EasyJet chief Harrison to leave in June
Wed, 9 Dec 2009
EasyJet chief executive Andy Harrison will leave the airline “to seek new challenges” at the end of June, it was announced today.Harrison (pictured) has led the airline since 2005, when he joined from the motoring group RAC. His departure follows that of
Prestige expands reservations team
Tue, 8 Dec 2009
Prestige Holidays it has expanded its reservations team at its Hampshire headquarters.The independent luxury operator has brought in Antony Down from The Co-operative Travel and Sergio Alves from Bath Travel.The company has also appointed Denise Hunn and Jill Tibble ...
BMI to slash 600 jobs and five routes
Wed, 25 Nov 2009
BMI is cutting 600 jobs and axing five routes because of the recession.The majority of the jobs will be lost among "operational" staff including cabin and flight crew members working out of Heathrow.Flights from the airport to Brussels, Tel Aviv, Kiev and Aleppo will be suspended in January 2010, with the Amsterdam service to go in March.The company will reduce ...
Ex-Club Med bosses reunite at W&O
Wed, 25 Nov 2009
Steve O’Loughlin and Sarah Mason, both formerly of Club Med, have joined luxury operator W&O Travel. The operator has recently undergone a major rebranding to bring eight of its brochures under the umbrella of its parent company. The move is expected to boost brand recognition, help agents sell across all brands, and simplify back-office procedures.
Travelzoo names Loughlin as next chief
Tue, 24 Nov 2009
Travelzoo, the online travel offers provider, has revealed that Chris Loughlin will become its chief executive from July 2010.Loughlin, currently executive vice-president for Europe, has overseen year-on-year growth rates of more than 100% in the last year.Present chief executive Holgar Bartel ...
Funway appoints new managing director
Wed, 18 Nov 2009
Kyle Haughton has been appointed as managing director of long-haul operator Funway Holidays.Haughton replaces Stephen Hughes who founded the company in 1993 and will continue in a consultancy role.Haughton joins Funway from airports operator BAA where he worked for three years as commercial sales and marketing director. Previously he was a director at First Choice ...
WTM 2009: Macau launches agent training
Mon, 9 Nov 2009
The Macau Government Tourist Office has launched an online training scheme for travel agents.Agents can sign-up for the four-module course at macauspecialist.co.uk and receive a Macau Specialist certificate on completion of the programme.The tourist board's deputy director, Helena Fernandes, helped launch the training ...
Cook promotes Constanti and Derbyshire
Fri, 6 Nov 2009
Thomas Cook Group today announced a boardroom reshuffle that saw promotions for Pete Constanti and Ian Derbyshire.Constanti, currently UK and Ireland chief executive for mainstream travel, takes on a role as destination management chief executive for the group as a whole.He will lead the group’s purchasing, ...
Mottershead returns to Tui
Mon, 2 Nov 2009
Former Tui UK managing director Chris Mottershead (pictured) is returning to the company to lead an integration of its Canadian arm with the Sunwing tour operator.He will join Tui Travel Canada in January next year as interim chief financial office and integration director of the new Sunwing business.
Baird quits Virgin and Abta for VC firm
Thu, 29 Oct 2009
Nick Hughes leaves Kuoni
Thu, 29 Oct 2009
Joanna Edmunds has been appointed managing director for Kuoni UK. She will assume her responsibilities as of November 2.Due to these structural changes and the newly defined role – which includes a focus on sales and marketing but excludes responsibilities for production – Nick Hughes is leaving the company with immediate effect.
Travel firms suffer on high street
Tue, 27 Oct 2009
A survey has suggested more travel agencies and tour operators have closed this year than most other retail sectors on the high street.The study of 250,000 businesses across the UK by the Local Data Company found that 10% - 25,000 shops - had shut down between January and September. It found that 13.2% of travel ...
Iberia cabin crew begin London strike
Mon, 26 Oct 2009
At least 16 Iberia flights between London and Madrid have been cancelled today and tomorrow as a result of strikes by cabin crew over wages.About 440 international and domestic flights – about a quarter of Iberia’s daily total, are affected each day in what is the first of two 48-hour strikes planned by the union.
Travel Foundation expands board
Fri, 23 Oct 2009
Four new people have been appointed to the Travel Foundation’s board of trustees. From January 1, 2010 Andy Cooper, Thomas Cook director of government and external affairs; Peter Shanks, P&O Cruises managing director; Christian Cull,
Sunvil boss to head Wyatt-backed Viking UK
Thu, 22 Oct 2009
Noel Josephides is set to head a new UK offshoot of Viking Airlines, the Sweden-based carrier with links to the
Cherie Blair helps launch Women 1st
Fri, 16 Oct 2009
Cherie Blair has helped to launch Women 1st, an initiative to address the lack of women in senior positions within the travel and hospitality sector.Training organisation People 1st launched Women 1st this week to look at how to redress the significant under-representation of women in senior management positions.Only 6% of company directors in the hospitality, leisure, travel ...
TC 2009: Know your staff's 'spark' - Lacey
Thu, 8 Oct 2009
Don’t rely on top performers in a time of recession, was the advice from training expert Hoda Lacey during a masterclass at the Abta Travel Convention.Facilitating a session on developing and motivating people in adversity, Lacey warned that companies that relied on high performers to prop up teams would risk a fall-out when those people inevitably left to go elsewhere ...
Amanda Wills: The talent coming through needs our support
Thu, 1 Oct 2009
COMMENT by Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin HolidaysAt the risk of provoking much eye-rolling, you know what – it’s all about the people at the end of the day.
VisitBritain signs New Frontiers deal
Mon, 28 Sep 2009
VisitBritain has named New Frontiers Recruitment as its preferred recruitment partner for UK travel and tourism recruitment. The contract is for three years and includes permanent and temporary recruitment.Laura Perretta, people and performance business partner for VisitBritain, said New Frontiers had been chosen due to its strong focus on travel and tourism, competitive fees, extensive recruitment ...
WTM to hold debut student conference
Mon, 28 Sep 2009
A conference for industry undergraduates is to be held at this year's World Travel Market for the first time.The Future You conference has been created by the Institute of Travel and Tourism and the Tourism Society, and is designed to give advice on a range of issues such as CVs, interviews and job-hunting.
Midlands Co-op appoints web manager
Fri, 18 Sep 2009
Midlands Co-op has appointed Sarah Benfield to the new role of web services manager. Benfield will be responsible for developing the strategy of the group’s internet services.Her first priority will be to review the existing web portfolio and unify them under the Midlands Co-op’s new branding.
Online training for global consortium
Wed, 9 Sep 2009
Online Travel Training has partnered with agency consortium Lufthansa City Centre to provide online training for its members around the world.The deal means agents will be able to access supplier training programmes from their office computers.LCC’s managing director, ...
Abta appoints two senior managers
Wed, 9 Sep 2009
Abta has made two senior appointments, recruiting a head of public affairs and a head of destination strategy and services.These appointments
Air France seeks 1,500 voluntary job losses
Mon, 7 Sep 2009
Air France has unveiled plans to seek up to 1,500 voluntary redundancies as reorganises its business and cuts capacity.The airline has been reported as saying there will be no complusory redundancies but that staff numbers will be reduced through voluntarily departure, retirement and a recruitment freeze.
Ski trade experts launch Zenith Holidays
Mon, 7 Sep 2009
Two former Tui Travel bosses have launched a ski tour operation for the winter season.Stuart McLeod, former First Choice, Thomson and Crystal Ski managing director, and former Tui Travel colleague, Katie Waddington, are ...
Business Knowledge: Coping with maternity leave
Thu, 3 Sep 2009
At a time when the threat of redundancy is at its highest and teams are stretched to the limit, what happens when you find out you or one of your employees is pregnant? Lucinda Dunseath looks at rights, responsibilities and best practice
Direct discounting killed us - Wales agent
Thu, 3 Sep 2009
An agent forced to cease trading has blamed discounting by operators – and warned it will drive other small agencies to the wall.Susan Watt, owner of the Millennium Travel Agency in Cardiff, closed her shop on Wednesday.She said she was left with no choice after finding it impossible to compete with operators and cruise lines selling direct.She said: “I was having issues ...
Sue Biggs leaves Thomas Cook
Tue, 1 Sep 2009
Former Kuoni boss Sue Biggs has left Thomas Cook just over a year since she moved to the company.Biggs left Cook yesterday amid rumours of a wider management shake-up that could see other senior staff lose their jobs.She joined Cook
Two bosses leave Lufthansa-owned BMI
Tue, 1 Sep 2009
Two senior managers are leaving BMI as a result of a shake-up introduced by new owners Lufthansa.Peter Spencer, managing director of BMI Mainline, which covers the airline’s Heathrow base, and Martyn Bridger, BMI Mainline’s commercial director, are leaving a month after the German flag-carrier took a controlling stake in the UK airline.
John Bevan joins private jet broker
Tue, 25 Aug 2009
Former Lastminute.com managing director John Bevan has become a non-executive director of online private jet broker privatefly.com.The company hopes the move will boost plans to apply online travel strategies to the traditionally offline private charter market.
Worldchoice signs Betton as PR consultant
Mon, 24 Aug 2009
Former Abta head of corporate affairs Keith Betton has been appointed as communications consultant to travel agency consortium Worldchoice.
Directline Holidays expands and promotes
Wed, 19 Aug 2009
Online travel agency Directline Holidays is expanding within the domestic, luxury and long-haul markets. The company said business for the year was significantly up in terms of visitors to the website and overall profitability.The growth has resulted in a restructure to facilitate the increase in activity.Chief ...
ITM seeks expert support for degree scheme
Mon, 17 Aug 2009
The Institute of Travel and Meetings is calling on its members to lend their expertise to talent project, Academy. Caroline Strachan (pictured), ITM’s chairman and head of procurement at Astra Zeneca, announced to delegates at ITM’s conference earlier this year that a deal had been struck with the University ...
Places still available on GTMC courses
Thu, 13 Aug 2009
The Guild of Travel Management Companies is targeting ambitious business travel consultants and account managers to enrol for the remaining places on this year’s City & Guilds courses.Inductions for the consultant level exam take place at the start of next month. Candidates are being urged to contact the Guild should they want to sign up. The management ...
Titan boss dismisses sale 'speculation'
Tue, 11 Aug 2009
Titan Travel has described as “speculative” reports that it is being lined up to be sold, possibly to grey-market specialist Saga.
Irish union eyes compromise with Cook
Thu, 6 Aug 2009
Union bosses said this week they expected to reach a compromise with Thomas Cook over redundancy packages for staff at its two closed Dublin branches.Dublin police break up Cook sit-in (PA Photos)
TTG's Rupert fails his Butlins' Redcoat trial
Thu, 6 Aug 2009
TTG’s Rupert Murray (pictured on left) spent a day as ‘Redcoat Rootie’ at Butlins Bognor Regis. He returned demoralised, but with huge respect for one of the most famous jobs in travelBack in the days when Les Dennis was presenting Family Fortunes, 100 people were asked to name a type of coat. Following the immortal words “our survey said”, Dennis revealed ...
Freedom joins Co-op Travel training scheme
Tue, 4 Aug 2009
Members of The Freedom Travel Group have been given access to The Co-operative Travel’s online learning system.They can now use the Co-operative Academy Training School for learning modules on tour operators, destinations, health and safety, insurance and data protection.It also includes a “High ...
HRG boss asks staff to take unpaid leave
Mon, 3 Aug 2009
HRG chief executive David Radcliffe and the travel management company’s board voted unanimously to take a 5% salary cut from next month.And the firm’s entire staff were offered sabbaticals, shorter working hours and unpaid leave as the company tries to stave off the effects of the recession.The cutbacks were the second phase of the "options ...
Carl Michel steps down from Holidaybreak
Wed, 29 Jul 2009
Carl Michel has resigned from his position as group chief executive of Holidaybreak.John Coleman has taken on the role of executive chairman and will remain in the post until a new chief executive is appointed. Michel, who leaves for "personal reasons", will step down from the board officially on September 30. With the announcement came an interim management statement for ...
Comtec appoints division heads
Wed, 22 Jul 2009
Travel technology company Comtec has announced a restructure which will see its business in the UK split into three divisions. It says the reshuffle will allow it to be more customer-focused. Each division will be headed up by a general manager.
Gulf Air appoints new chief executive
Fri, 3 Jul 2009
Gulf Air has appointed Samer Majali as its new chief executive officer. Majali, who was formerly chief executive of Royal Jordanian, will take over from current boss Bjorn Naf within the next few months.
Laurence Hicks leaves Wendy Wu Tours
Wed, 1 Jul 2009
Wendy Wu Tours managing director Laurence Hicks left the company yesterday after he and the board of directors failed to agree terms on a permanent contract.Laurence Hicks and Wendy Wu launch ...
Peltours' Darren Panto steps down
Wed, 1 Jul 2009
Peltours sales and marketing director Darren Panto has left the company after 13 years with the Egypt specialist.Panto, 41, said he had not decided what to do next but felt it was time for a change.“I’m keeping my options open – I’ve got a few ideas of my own but if somebody came along with a serious offer I would be interested,” he added.“It might ...
ITT: Travel 'to snap up skilled unemployed'
Tue, 9 Jun 2009
Travel companies are set to be given guidance on how to take advantage of the recession by snapping up skilled workers from other sectors.Industry training body People First is in discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions with a view to providing "conversion training" to encourage those out of work to consider a switch to a career in travel, giving travel companies the chance to cherry-pick ...
