Seaside Travel has promoted a raft of its long-standing branch managers to create a senior management team as it prepares to open a head office and 13th shop.
The news comes as brand manager Richard Lowrey-Heywood leaves the expanding agency after two and a half years. No reason was given but his departure was said to be “extremely amicable”.
His role will not be directly replaced and instead his responsibilities have been shared between existing staff as part of a senior restructure at the agency.
A new seven-strong senior management team under owner Nicola Park has been created to support the company’s ongoing expansion.
The company’s head office, which is due to open on April 1 at the back of its existing store in Wingate, County Durham, will be used for supplier meetings and staff training, as well as a base for the senior team.
Training and resources manager Paula Gleeson, who has been made head of business and commercial under the shake-up, said: “The promotions are all to do with the growth of Seaside and growing interest from tour operators as we become a bigger business.
“We have converted the old office space out the back of our existing Wingate branch so we can now entertain meetings with the operators and hold staff training. We also host our own holiday shows. As an independent agency, our relationship with tour operators is key.”
Gleeson said there was “no stopping Mr and Mrs Seaside”, in reference to owner Nicola Park and partner Barry Coatman, as the chain continues its plans for rapid expansion. Park has previously stated a target of 20 shops in the next few years.
The agency’s 12th shop, in Amble, Northumberland, opens at the end of this week with a mix of trained staff and “newcomers” to travel, while plans are underway to open a 13th branch in an as-yet unnamed location in April, she said.
In addition to Gleeson, the new senior management team comprises operations senior manager Yasmin Kane; senior assets manager Michael Park, who is Nicola and Barry’s son; training and community manager Kate Dixon; brand and social media manager Katelyn Cook; and two new regional managers: Donna Baker, as regional sales manager, east, and Rebecca Rutter as regional sales manager, west.
Gleeson, who has known Park since she was a teenager and has been in travel for 35 years, heads the management team and is now in charge of day to day running of Seaside Travel.
She said: “I am so proud of what Seaside has become and can’t wait to help grow the business even more in future alongside Nicola and Barry. There’s never a dull moment at Seaside, no two days are the same and our team is literally the best. I can honestly say I have the best job and I love being a Seasider!”
New operations senior manager Kane, former manager of Seaside’s Easington branch, has worked at Seaside since starting as an apprentice after work experience at the agency aged 15.
She said: “I am so excited to start my new role, based at our new head office, and I am ready for a new chapter within Seaside Travel. I will be taking on all aspects of day to day running of our shops, assisting managers with all their needs.”
As senior assets manager Michael Park will be looking after “all things sport” in the business, including creating new opportunities with Sunderland Football Club, and in charge of the company’s social media pages, Seaside branded cars and finding new shop locations.
Training & Community manager Kate Dixon was formerly manager of Seaside’s Sacriston branch in Durham and will work on training new and existing staff, expanding the business through community events and helping to get new stores up and running. “I am so excited to get started in my new role,” said Dixon, who started part time four and a half years ago with no travel experience as a part-time travel consultant.
Brand and social media manager Katelyn Cook was previously branch manager of the Wingate shop before managing branches in Lanchester and Hartlepool.
“Now I’ve been given yet another fantastic opportunity to head up our social media and brand at Seaside Travel,” she said, adding: “I will be helping to get the Seaside name out, staying up to date with current trends, creating exciting posts and the buzz around the Seaside Travel name and helping staff with all things social; I mean who doesn’t love a TikTok trend! I’m looking forward to my new challenge.”
The company has already nicknamed its two new regional sales managers as the ‘wicked witch of the East’ and the ‘wicked witch of the West’ after Wicked The Musical.
Baker, RSM east, has been manager of the Wingate shop for the past 18 months after joining Seaside six years ago. “Travel has always been my passion,” she said, joking about the competition now between the company’s east and west sales regions. “I will not be beaten so it’s ‘war’ between the two new sales regions, bring it on!” she joked.
Rutter, RSM west, opened the Fishburn branch and has worked as manager in Wingate and Hartlepool, and in a training role for the company. “Now I’m the ‘wicked witch of the west’, look out Donna! As they say ‘west is the best’” she said.