Staff

Managing Director

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
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 own it!

Finance and Administration Manager

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. I believe that my varied experience will benefit the company, and hope that I will gain valuable new experiences, friends and contacts.

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 have also recently taken on the role of Administration Manager and with my team control the quality procedures within the office, including our ISO 9001/2000 certification and our IIP standard, and I am very proud of both!

Interests

Interior Design
Calligraphy
Astronomy - novice!
Studying - currently BA (Hons) in Business Studies

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.

Sales Manager 

Responsibilities & Experience

My role is to identify and develop new business opportunities for Medway Travel Management.

My aim is to secure those opportunities and if you are not already, to gain you as a business partner for Medway Travel Management.

My success is to ensure that you are satisfied with Medway Travel Management using strategic and constructive Account Management.

In the interests of your company I have always found in the travel industry that the best start to any working relationship is to meet, understand your travel needs and your wishes so that I can offer an effective, tailored, cost and time conscious solution. As your requirements evolve, so we extend our service to achieve your goals through our pro-active Account Management.

With over 20 years experience in both the airline industry and Business-to-Business markets, my strength and successes are based on the building of long term, successful partnerships with my customers, thus enabling me to deliver a service which exceeds your expectations.

Interests

Golf
Travel
Socialising


Why I work for Medway Travel?

I seized the opportunity to work for a successful and well respected Independent Travel Management Company with excellent resources, the support of Advantage Focus Group and a flat Management structure where decisions are made quickly.

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

Marketing for the Leisure Groups and Events Departments as well as arranging all travel for Medway Travel schools clients. I have over 20 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.

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.

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.

Responsibilities & Experience

Arranging business travel for Medway Travel clients. I have been working in business travel since 1997. I took a short break from Medway Travel to work as cabin crew for Emirates Airlines based in Dubai. During this time I travelled to many countries, giving me first hand knowledge and experience, which I am now able to pass on to our clients.

Interests

Travel
Gym
Eating Out

Why I work for Medway Travel?

I have always enjoyed working for an independent company that is geared towards providing its customers with a specialised and personal service. Medway Travel is just such a company and is ideal for me, being local to my home. I was delighted to be able to rejoin the Medway team, following my experience with Emirates.

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

Gym
Gardening
Socialising
Motor biking

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.

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, Groups & Events Manager
Cruise and Wildlife Specialist

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, Events and Leisure 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.

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.

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.
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.