Former Back-Roads Touring sales manager Lockie Kerr and former dnata purchasing boss Tom Dale have joined travel marketing company Inspire My Holiday.
Kerr, who was made redundant in March from tour operator Back-Roads Touring, started in mid-May as a business development consultant, with a brief to develop relationships with travel agents, tour operators and touring companies.
Dale, who until last month worked as head of purchasing for the Americas and the Caribbean for dnata, is working as a business development consultant focused on working with hotels and tourist board partners.
Olly Lomas, who founded the business with Norma Meyer, said: “I’m really excited to be welcoming both Lockie and Tom into the Inspire My Holiday team. With their wealth of experience, talent and respect, it will enable us to grow the business further after our successful launch in late 2019.”
Inspire My Holiday aims to help holidaymakers who do not know which destination to go to and helps them in the initial phase of researching a holiday.
Its website offers suggestions of places to visit by using ‘inspiring’ content and matching consumers’ holiday needs with destinations.
Once holidaymakers have decided where to go, the marketing platform offers hotels and tour operators on its destination pages. Users can then link through to the supplier’s own website to make an enquiry and book.
The website covers long and short-haul destinations, including the UK.
Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the site was attracting more than 1,000 unique visitors a day. Its target is to exceed 350,000 unique visitors over the next 12 months.
Kerr said he was keen to speak to tour operators or agents interested in new, cost-effective marketing channels to generate extra business.
He said: “The current situation is difficult for all travel brands at the moment and we understand the pain everyone is going through. We’re here to help our partners navigate through this difficult period and build long lasting relationships for many years to come.”
He added: “I’m thrilled to be part of something so fresh and exciting. At a time when the travel industry desperately needs new ideas, Inspire My Holiday is exactly the right thing at the right time.”
Kerr was UK and Europe sales manager for Back-Roads Touring, and worked for the small group touring specialist for four and a half years. When he started the operator had no UK trade partners. He previously held the same position with sister brand Topdeck, a leading youth touring specialist.
Dale worked for dnata for more than three and a half years and previously worked for Best At Travel and Trailfinders.
