“Zipping up my Boots” (well suitcase actually!)
For those of you that know me, you will know that my career started back in the early 90s as an overseas entertainer for Thomson Holidays. Working in the groundbreaking, pioneering ‘Thomson Sun’ product, my four years spent overseas provided me with the foundations of my 30+ years in the entertainment industry.
Prior to my current role, I held the position of specialist delivery manager for the Thomas Cook group which was an exciting and challenging role. My responsibilities involved overseeing the successful delivery of products and services related to entertainment, kids club, and other specialist products such as weddings and the over 50s holidays.
Conducting site visits overseas was an essential aspect of my job, as it allowed me to personally assess and evaluate the specialist products provided by Thomas Cook. These site visits included visiting the hotels and meeting with local partners and suppliers and ensuring that everything aligned with the company’s quality standards. It is fair to say that I was hopping on and off a flight at least two to three times per month and during that time, I got to know the ins and outs of Gatwick Airport very well!
My work at The Business Creative has not required me to do this type of European resort visit, so when we were approached by a major hotel group in Cyprus earlier in the year to do some consultancy work for them, I jumped at the chance to ‘go back to my roots’ and conduct the site visit.
Accompanied by seasoned professional Shep, we conducted a four-day tour of Cyprus starting in Paphos and ending up in Protaras, visiting some fabulous 5-star properties with multi-national guests, and it was so interesting to see just how things have changed.
At The Business Creative, we are known for ‘doing things differently’. Our passion is innovation, so partnering with new clients who share our vision and forward-thinking approach is not only refreshing but hugely exciting.
The days of ‘cookie-cutter’ entertainment programmes are fading. Independent hotel chains are challenged to compete with the major tour operators and the investment they make into their product portfolio. They are expected to curate bespoke multi-national entertainment and experience offerings that cater to diverse tastes and backgrounds.
Here at The Business Creative, we are able to support them with consultancy services, strategy planning and production services, providing them with bespoke, tailored support for their hotels.
This visit to Cyprus has left me massively motivated, especially knowing that we will be collaborating with Shep. His expertise in this area is unquestionable. He is the absolute master of creating modern customer experiences in overseas hotel environments. We can’t wait to start work on the project and share news on our progression along the way!
