Shine Awards: Celebrating women in the travel industry

On November 26 pioneering women in the travel industry will be attending a ceremony at London Metropolitan University to see if they have won a Shine Award.

Now in its fourth year, the Shine Awards were set up by talent management company Shine People and Places to recognise the achievements of women in travel, tourism and hospitality.

 

A panel of industry figures met at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Office earlier this month to consider 100 entries from travel agents, training and recruitment specialists and hoteliers.

 

Travel Weekly met three of the women who made the shortlist to see what makes them tick.

Shine Awards: The 2008 finalists

 

Corporate Woman

• Trudy Redfern, Silversea Cruises
• Vanessa Lensenn, GoLearnTo 
• Debbie Marshall, CV Travel    

 

Woman Entrepreneur

• Vanessa Scott, Strattons Hotel
• Julia Feuell, New Frontiers

 

Outstanding Mentor

• Gina McAdams, Stratemarco
• Fiona Jeffery, World Travel Market

 

Public Sector Woman

• Lynn Westbury, University of Liverpool
• Cathy Guthrie, Tourism Management Institute
• Karen Illingworth, The Mersey Partnership
• Jenny McGee, London Tourist Board

 

Young Achiever

• Karen Eason, Sunshine Travel
• Emma Chang, The Liner Hotel
• Sharon Glancy, Stonebow Training Company

 

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Profile: Julia Feuell, managing director, New Frontiers

 

Julia has headed her own travel and hospitality recruitment business since 1993.

 

She was chair of the Association of Women Travel Executives for two years.

• Shortlisted for: Woman Entrepreneur

 

Why the judges chose her

 

"Julia is very well known in the trade. She has set up a successful business and diversified into online training. She also did good work modernising the AWTE.”

 

What first attracted you to the travel industry?

 

"I grew up in New Zealand, have travelled and I love languages, so it was a natural choice for me.”

 

Do women have a tough time progressing to high-level roles in the travel industry?

 

"There's no discrimination against women in senior positions. Many women choose to focus on their families. Whichever gender you are, you have to put yourself out there and show you have ideas.”

 

What tips would you give to young women starting out in travel?

 

"You have to enjoy socialising. The travel industry is all about getting on with people.”

• Career high: "Being chosen by BBC News 24 to speak about TUI Travel redundancies.”
• Career low: "Always having to have the answers when things are hard.”

 

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Profile: Karen Eason, managing director, Sunshine Travel

 

Karen Eason, 27, set up Sunshine Travel in 2002. She started as a homeworker, working alone, and in 2003 moved into retail premises in Corsham, Wiltshire.

 

The agency has seen a high volume of repeat business and Karen expects to increase turnover by 22% in 2008.

• Shortlisted for: Young Achiever

 

Why the judges chose her

 

"For such a young person she has achieved a huge amount. She has an inspirational quality and is a great role model for young people.”

 

What first attracted you to the travel industry?

 

"I was a bit of a geek growing up and used to make travel scrapbooks and read travel books. I started out working weekends in Lunn Poly and absolutely loved it.”

 

Do women have a tough time progressing to high-level roles in the travel industry?

 

"There are lots of successful women in the industry – we can show the men how it's done.”

 

What advice would you give to young women starting out in travel?

 

"You have to find a niche market, don't rely on bucket-and-spade business. Also, look at working with the small operators. They will help agents out, not compete with them.”

• Career high: "Winning best southwest regional manager in Travel Weekly's Agent Excellence Awards.”
• Career low: "When the local council imposed parking charges outside the shop it really affected us. I started a campaign with the local press and they removed the charges.”

 

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Profile: Vanessa Lenssen, managing director, GoLearnTo

 

Vanessa started at her local travel agency before joining Thomson and later becoming a general manager at TUI UK.

 

She progressed to the role of managing director at MyTravelLite, MyTravel's low-cost airline, and was then headhunted by STA Travel to become vice-president, global product.

 

In 2007, she set up her own business, GoLearnTo, specialising in educational or ‘learning' holidays. The online agency sells everything from Arabic classes in Cairo to surfing lessons in Portugal.

• Shortlisted for: Corporate Woman

 

Why the judges chose her

 

"Vanessa has shown business achievement and people skills, especially when developing staff. We admired her diversity [of abilities] and her confidence in setting up her own business.”

 

What first attracted you to the travel industry?

 

"My parents were against formal education so I left school at 15. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew I liked travel so I ended up working in a local travel agency. It was a fantastic grounding.”

 

Do women have a tough time progressing to high-level roles in the travel industry?

 

"There are more men in senior roles but that didn't hinder me.

 

It's about having the right attitude and it helps if you have encouragement from your boss.”

 

What tips would you give to young women starting out in travel?

 

"Travel is a vocation. You don't get into it for the money, you have to be passionate.”

• Career high: "Getting my first managing director role at MyTravel, and starting my own business.”
• Career low: "When I moved from Suffolk to London to work for Teletext, I knew it wasn't for me within three weeks, but stayed for a year.”