Industry consultant Sue Kavanagh has joined homeworking agency InteleTravel to support its growth in the UK.
She was recruited three months ago by Tricia Handley-Hughes, director of InteleTravel in the UK, to take on the newly created role of administration manager.
Kavanagh is working in the team’s new London office, in Canary Wharf, with Handley-Hughes, office manager Geraldine Nolan, and Marilyn O’Rourke, who has a part-time administrative support role, working with suppliers.
She has 35 years of experience in the travel industry, having started her career in retail with Lunn Poly, rising to become national training manager.
Her career took her to Pickfords Travel and Carlson Wagonlit Travel where she moved into HR. She worked at Qatar Airways for almost 10 years before setting up her own consultancy in 2019.
Speaking to Travel Weekly at the InteleTravel conference in Valencia, she said: “I was brought on board because of the expansion in the UK, so much is happening.
“I am getting involved with everything; it is a fantastic opportunity.”
“When I came on board, there was lots of uncertainty in travel but that is lifting; it is a fantastic period now that travel is opening up.”
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Kavanagh also works with Nolan on training webinars, such as Dream Maker sessions which are primarily for new starters, covering product information and Abta requirements.
Currently the sessions are virtual but they hope to move to face-to-face training again later this year.
She first met agents at a recent fam trip in London, ahead of the two-day conference in Valencia.
“The thing that hit me is their positivity. Networking with the agents is fantastic, they are so supportive of each other,” she added.
The UK team will grow again in November with the additional of three call centre staff who will be able to deal with enquiries from homeworkers.
James Ferrara, InteleTravel co-founder and president, told delegates at the conference about the new call centre, which means homeworkers can speak to someone in the UK, rather than having to rely on the company’s US call centre.
“You want to talk to someone who can advise you about the market you are working in and you want someone to be there at 8am,” he told agents.
Initially, it will operate during normal business hours but he added: “As the business grows and when we can justify it, we will go to 24 hours.
“It is business dependent: make it happen, drive our sales through the roof.”