Staff

 

Responsibilities & Experience

I still hold the vision I had when I set up the company in 1993. This is to create the ideal agency I wish I could have found when I travelled extensively on business as Sales and Marketing Director of major engineering companies:

An agent employing the highest calibre staff, motivated to provide the best possible service in a friendly and professional way with the aid of the best technology; also one which deals with clients and suppliers in a wholly ethical manner, putting the interests of clients first.

We have come a long way along this road, but there will always be more to do!! Additionally, I am Chairman of The Travel Management Partnership Ltd - a consortium of like-minded independent travel agencies, which has greatly helped in our own development.

Interests

Exploring / travelling
Country walking
Board member of The Reedham Trust - a children's charity
National Politics
Medway Travel (!)

Why I work for Medway Travel

I enjoy the variety of work and the challenge. I have always liked building partnerships with clients, and our success is addictive. Another good reason is, I suppose, that I have been nurturing it since 1993 and enjoy seeing it grow up!

Finance and Administration Manager and Deputy to the MD
 

Responsibilities & Experience

I started work as a cashier for a major high street bank. I progressed to accounting for a major insurance broker, who was the first such company in the country to gain ISO 9000/1994 accreditation. Later in the airline industry I became the Contracts Manager travelling around the world interviewing prospective aircrew and contracting them. More recently I embarked on the challenge of running the financial affairs of a small manufacturing company, which I did for four years until joining Medway Travel in 2004. I believe that my varied experience benefits the company, and hope that I will always continue to gain valuable new experiences, friends and contacts. 

In July 2011 I completed a Professional Certificate in Management (Bachelors Degree Equivalent) and became a member of the Chartered Institute of Management and in December 2011 I was awarded a BA (Hons) in Business Studies.

Apart from deputising for the Managing Director in his absence, I am in overall charge of the financial accounting for the company and ensure that we consistently follow best practice. I deal with the payroll and personnel issues within the company. I also act as Administration Manager and with my team control the quality procedures within the office, including our ISO 9001/2008 certification and our IIP standard, and I am very proud of both!

Interests

Interior Design
Calligraphy
Astronomy - novice!

Why I work for Medway Travel?

When I was looking for another position I wanted to work for a company that had very high standards, that put its customers first, valued its staff and continually strives for perfection. I was delighted to be offered the position at Medway Travel since not only did it offer all the above, but was also relatively local, enabling me to continue to have a good work-life balance. 

Head of Business Operations

Responsibilities & Experience

My primary role is to manage and develop relationships between MTM and our clients and to ensure your travel requirements are fulfilled to your total satisfaction. I hold regular review meetings and booker forums, provide in house training and technical demonstrations but one of the main objectives of my role is to be consistently looking for ways to enhance our service to our clients whether that’s by devising travel policies, providing solutions to enable our clients to achieve optimum cost saving or ensuring we meet our clients expectations every time. This includes keeping our own team up to date with your changing requirements.

With 13 years experience within the travel industry working my way up from trainee to managing my own team of consultants within a global travel management company, I brought with me a sound back ground of knowledge and experience to add to the already highly qualified Medway Travel team. I totally share their passion for bringing the highest level of service to every client.

Interests

Travelling
Reading
Skiing
Swimming

Why I work for Medway Travel

After working in London for several years I jumped at the opportunity to join Medway Travel when I was offered the job. Not only did this mean being able to work locally but also to return to an independent travel management company with a forward thinking and flexible reputation and within a role where I could further develop my skillset. After all the years I have worked within the industry, I still hold the same passion for travel in all its facets, that I did on my first day as a trainee and I come to work every day looking forward to the prospect of being able to make a difference.

Business Development Manager

Responsibilites & Experience:

As a Business Development Manager my prime role is to source potential new business and endeavour to convert them to happy MTM clients. Since my last spell with the company eight years ago and the advent of self-booking, this presents a far greater challenge - so interesting times ahead.

I have worked in sales and marketing for 40 years in both the UK and Australia (1981-97) mainly in the office equipment and education industries - Sales Manager for Geerings (Medway) Ltd and Kentinental Engineering Ltd (UK) from 1974-81 - Queensland State Manager for Sanyo Office Machines and Managing Director of Educational Concepts Pty. Ltd (Brisbane) during the 80’s and 90’s. Since returning to England, apart from a three year spell with MTM from 1999-2002, I have run my own publishing and film production company.

Interests

Reading
Writing
English History
The Countryside

Why I Work for Medway Travel

Good question. The offer of a new old challenge but from a home base which provides the only environment in which I can now operate happily – independent and peaceful - meaning for me, far more achieved. And, where better to work than with a company I greatly respect for the high calibre of its staff, the great service it provides and its sound business ethics?

 

Marketing and Schools Travel Manager

Responsibilities & Experience

Managing our dedicated Schools Travel service and personally co-ordinating all individual and group travel for our Academic clients. I am also responsible for the marketing of our service to schools, colleges and universities across the country. In addition I work closely with colleagues to market other areas of our business, and personally coordinate the production of our monthly company enewsletter and regular  MT Express news bulletins.  I have over 30 years travel industry experience, including 13 years with British Airways.

Interests

Travel
Cooking
Languages

Why I work for Medway Travel?

Being local to me was a big help. I enjoy working as a part of a small team in an independent company that really cares for its staff and customers.

Accounts & Personnel Assistant

Responsibilities & Experience

I have several responsibilities, including the production and checking of invoices, maintenance of our IIP structure, and maintaining and preparing management and corporate reports for clients and suppliers. I also send out our ‘Medway Express' news flashes.

Interests

Knitting
Needlework
Gardening
DIY
My grandchildren

Why I work for Medway Travel?

I have high personal standards and so does Medway Travel, therefore I feel that I fit well within the company.

Operations Manager

Responsibilities & Experience

Managing the day-to-day running of the Business Travel reservations team and ensuring that our service quality is the very highest. I continually monitor and advise our consultants to ensure best practice is consistently applied to all aspects of our processes, from taking initial enquiries through itinerary research to final ticketing, invoicing and itinerary confirmation communications.

I have many years experience, mainly in business travel and also spent two summer seasons as an overseas rep. in my ‘youth’.

Interests

DIY
Gym
Swimming
Travelling
Food

Why I work for Medway Travel?

Being local to where I live, I jumped at the chance of joining Medway Travel back in 1998, as a senior consultant. With the excellent support from other managers, a great team to work with, and a very friendly client base, I am delighted to have been able to progress my career through being Team Leader to my current role of managing the Operations Department.

Client Development Manager

Responsibilities & Experience

I manage the introduction of new corporate clients' business travel to ensure a clear understanding of all the detailed requirements and preferences of each client. I then pass this on to the consultants nominated to look after each specific client, during the Welcome Programme period or at its conclusion.

I also oversee the quality control and the on-going training of the consultants as well as developing our use of new technology and products to optimise our support of clients' corporate travel. This includes training clients' staff in the use of self booking tools, where required.

Through my many years in the Travel & Airline industry (and since joining Medway Travel in 1997) I am able to bring a wealth of experience and knowledge and a professional attitude to the Corporate Travel department. For some 5 years, until early 2008, I was the Operations Manager at Medway Travel, when we decided that an experienced senior member of staff should be made responsible for the seamless transfer of new accounts to the company, and that this should receive the very highest level of expert attention.

Interests

Boating
Gardening
Reading
Skiing

Why I work for Medway Travel?

I like working for an independent, flexible company which has an excellent reputation in the travel industry for providing a very good personal and professional service.

Responsibilities & Experience

I research and arrange all aspects of travel for Medway Travel’s corporate clients.

I have a BTEC National Diploma in Travel and Tourism at level 3 (3 A Levels) and have been working in Travel Management as a consultant, since 2005 during which time I’ve gained valuable knowledge in finding the best deal for travellers, whilst always trying to provide the best possible customer service.

Interests

Travelling, Cars, Food, Socialising, Cinema, Languages

Why I work for Medway Travel?

I had wanted to work for Medway Travel for a few years as I had heard of their great reputation. After several interviews following a redundancy, I was lucky enough to be accepted for employment as Travel Consultant within Operations Department in February 2010.

Groups & Events Manager

Responsibilities & Experience

I have worked in the travel industry for 29 years, most of which was spent with independent agencies in London from Senior Clerical positions to Operations Manager for two top independent companies, Gardiner Merchant and VIP travel, handling all types of travel for their blue chip clients. My responsibilities at Medway Travel are the running of the Groups and Events department, the overseeing of all the IT systems for the company and staff photographer.

Interests

Travel
Director of a local theatre company
Water colour painting
Theatre and the Arts

Why I work for Medway Travel

I have always preferred working for an independent company and it was good to find one who was reasonably local to the east coast. It is nice to find a company that will allow me the opportunity of making a difference in the way we approach travel and the way the company develops towards the future. This is an ever-changing profession and Medway Travel has the professionalism and flexibility to be able to change with it. I like that.

Senior Consultant

Responsibilities and Experience

My work experience gained with a global management company has given me invaluable knowledge and a firm base from which to maintain the high standards of service which Medway Travel Management is so passionate about providing to its clients

Hobbies

Running
Hiking Up Mountains
Travelling
Reading
Driving my Classic Mini called Hugo 

Why I work for Medway Travel?

After many years working in London as a senior business travel consultant, I decided I wanted to give up the rat race to work locally for a company that value their staff, and recognised me as an individual and not a number.

Senior Leisure Travel Consultant and Cruise Specialist

Responsibilities and Experience

Arranging leisure and conference travel for Medway Travel clients. I started in tourism as a Redcoat entertainer for Butlins at Bognor Regis, followed by a stint as an entertainer overseas. After this I joined a large retail travel chain as a Customer Service Section Manager and then spent 2 years as a Cruise and USA specialist.

Interests

Singing with my band
Reading
Travelling
Music

Why I work for Medway Travel

Working for Medway Travel enables me to provide a quality one to one personal service covering an enormous variety of types of holiday that would be difficult if working in a large call centre environment. Working with real professionals helps my career development and also Medway Travel is very local to my home.

Responsibilities & Experience

French, born to Portuguese parents, I speak both languages fluently.

I have worked in the travel industry since 1995, and in the UK since 1997. During that time I have gained experience in car rental, hotel, Leisure Travel and Business Travel Management sectors. As a senior Business Travel Consultant at Medway Travel, I am responsible for the researching and booking the travel arrangements for a number of corporate clients, including some of our largest ones.

Interests

Cooking
Cinema
Travel
Gym / Body pump

Why I Work For Medway Travel

After 4 years of working for a multi branch Travel Management Company and driving 50 miles a day, it was a great opportunity to join Medway Travel Management. As an Independent Business travel agent, we are able to offer a far better client service and have closer rapport with our clients which I enjoy, whilst at the same time working in a friendly environment and being closer to home.

Leisure Travel Consultant

Responsibilities and Experience

I am responsible for researching into and arranging a wide range of holidays for Medway Travel’s leisure clients. I am also Medway Travel’s “Horizons” leisure club administrator - I enrol new members into the club and update existing members on their membership levels.

Many of the marketing projects associated with our Leisure Travel business are given to me to handle, with a view to increasing our sales through active use of our database. I also enjoy keeping the Leisure Travel section of our website up-to-date, increasing its content and improving its layout.

My position here at Medway Travel is my first within the travel industry. Before joining Medway, I studied Travel and Tourism at college for two years, and worked as a waitress for a number of years in a highly reputable restaurant, with exceptionally high standards of customer service.

Interests

Travel
Gym
Socialising
Reading
Cinema

Why I work for Medway Travel

I wanted to work in a very professional team that would enable me to develop my skills and train me in best practice, and am delighted to have hit the jackpot!
I get a real buzz out of being able to offer a quality, personal service to Medway Travel’s clients when assisting them in arranging a vast variety of holiday experiences.

Senior Groups and Events Consultant 

Responsibilities and Experience

I research and arrange every aspect of Group travel bookings and travel for people attending International Trade Fairs from the inception right through to the finish .
My 10 years in British Airways and 20 years in Business Travel compliment this, and enable me to give clients sound advice on making their trips more cost effective and convenient, as a result of all this experience.

Interests

I’m passionate about travelling somewhere new, Reading , Stamp Collecting and attending concerts.

Why I work for Medway Travel.

I wanted to work for a professional and reputable company that was open to the changes and challenges of the 21st Century with the benefits of belonging to the Advantage consortium of independent travel management companies.

Business Travel Consultant 

Responsibilities and Experience:

Researching into and finding best possible options for clients’ itineraries, advising them and arranging their business travel.

I started my Travel Career in an Accounts Department in 2004, and progressed my way up to senior Business Travel Consultant level, because I enjoyed the challenge of the work and the client contact. Throughout this time I have gained at lot of knowledge within travel through experience and training courses, and try to use this to provide good customer service to our corporate clients.

Hobbies:

Reading, Gym, Travelling, Socialising

Why I Work for Medway Travel:

I was very interested in working for an independent company in order to develop my skills. It is within a good location of my home and a very friendly and professional team to work with.