Tom’s early experience was in Tour Operation and Conference & Incentive Group Travel with a specialist Sport, Event and Groups Tour Operator. Starting as a trainee in 1977, Tom went on to become responsible for the group travel department before taking on the programme responsibility for airline and hotel product and purchasing carrying nearly 50,000 passengers overseas annually. Having risen to Director level and becoming a shareholder in the Company, Tom finally left the Company after 10 years to establish Group Promotions Ltd. Tom’s experience in hotel contracting as a Tour Operator was put to good use from the other side of the fence, providing a unique insight into the Sales & Marketing opportunities available to hotels. His many years in the industry have gained him numerous contacts and friends who are now the Captains of Industry in the UK and Europe.
Meet the team
Emma joined the Company in October 1999 having spent 8 years at SuperClubs. Emma has risen through the ranks and is now Company Director of Group Promotions, ensuring the smooth running of the Company together with making regular trips worldwide to represent the Company. Emma is heavily involved in fundamental decision-making and long term executive planning for our client partners.
Jane Bolton joined us in 2007 in the role of Business Development for our hotel partners, her brief includes all marketing and sales platforms where our partners can experience increased growth. Jane's previous history included Caribbean Product Manager at The Holiday Place - the UK’s leading independent online Tour Operator and 16 years in senior positions with major UK retail brands.
Growing up in the family business, Gary went on to Kingston University in London where he graduated with a 1st in business studies and IT. Gary rejoined the business following his degree in 2006 and now heads up our Retail Training Programme. Gary is also responsible for all IT development for the Company including our on-line training programme, booking engine, site development and reservations system.
On completion of her degree at Nottingham University, Lucy entered the travel industry as Product Executive at Caribworld. Lucy’s initial responsibilities with Group Promotions included contracts, brochure compilation, pricing analysis, web checks and much more. In 2010 after 5 years with the Company, Lucy was promoted to General Manager and now plays a major part in daily planning with our Hotel Owners and CEO's
Here at Group Promotions, we handle the reservations for our hotel partners from Tour Operators in our European & Asian territories. Julie heads up our accounting operation which includes reservations invoicing on behalf of our resorts, credit control for our clients resorts and payments for all reservations. Julie also oversees the budgetary expenses for annual advertisisng, sales and marketing promotions on behalf of our clients.
Gemma Bolt joined us in 2002 from the retail trade as a Sales Clerk with Going Places Travel Agency, a division of the Airtours / My Travel Group. Gemma’s consumer experience has been of great benefit to her in her role as Reservations Manager at Group Promotions. Gemma overseas the daily reservation reports received at our offices from our key Tour Operator partners in the UK, Europe and Asia. Gemma also oversees the administration of wedding documentation on behalf of our Hotel partners.
Louise Swanne is MD of Riva PR, a young, ambitious, proactive team who are very well respected in the industry. Louise and her team of 8 dedicated staff, work closely with us on a daily basis, greatly enhancing the PR activities for our partner hotels.
Puri Varela Martinez brings over 25 years of Airline experience to Group Promotions having worked in many departments of Iberia Airlines UK, from both Head Office in London and at Heathrow Airport.
Duncan MacArthur’s career spans over 30 years across Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia and Europe, working in some of the most prestigious global hotel corporations in the leisure industry.
Focusing on hotel management and structure, his reputation is built on turning loss-making hotels and resorts into lean, profit making ventures through practical people centred solutions.
By analysing the complex structures within the industry and helping our clients unlock the strategic value in their hotel, leisure and hospitality businesses; Duncan’s ability to install a workable, structured and profitable management and reporting framework ensures his experience is in great demand.
Karsten represents Couples Resorts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He has been working for the last 20 years as a Contract Manager and Product Director for Major Tour Operators in Germany including ITS, Jahn Reisen and Tjaereborg.
Following Kerry's degree in Business Management at the University of Surrey, she graduated with a 2:1 in 2007 before joining The Grove Hotel & Spa. After a successful two years, she moved to Kerzner Interntaional's Sales & Marketing department, improving on an already solid grounding in the hospitality industry. Joining us in 2010 she moved to Group Promotions as an Account Executive, where her responsibilities include market intelligence gathering, key account support as well as reservations, liasing on a daily basis with both Tour Operators and consumers.
Sophie joined us in 2009 having successfully completed her marketing degree at Leeds Metropolitan University. Working closely with the general manager, Sophies day-to-day responsibilities include web copy, pricing analysis and marketing agreements with all operators and dot.com's, as well as representing us at various consumer exhibitions and events.
On Time receivables has become a service of Group Promotions that hoteliers have fast become reliant upon. Shelly has recently joined us from the UK Hotel sector to assist in getting your receivables to you faster from our European Suppliers.
Louise's experience is from the High Street Retail Sector, she has also recently joined the On Time Receivables team and plays an important role liasing with our pan European Suppliers to improve the payment systems and reduce delays in receipt of payment to our Hotels from our travel partners.
As a Consultant to Group Promotions, Justin is responsible for keeping our cutting edge software systems at the forefront of technology and maintaining all other things software - from our online training academy to our unique reservations system. You will be amazed at the strength of detail in his reporting systems that he will produce.