Tributes have been paid to Caribtours’ Northern Ireland representative Nan Short, who died this week after a period of ill health.
Short represented a number of travel brands, and for the past 14 years was closely associated with the Caribbean region in her role for Caribtours.
Trade figures hailed her contribution and relationship with agents and suppliers alike.
Paul Cleary, chief executive of Caribtours, said: “I was introduced to Nan 14 years ago as the person who could establish us in Northern Ireland, and she became a dear friend.
“She was an amazing woman with so much presence and charisma despite her diminutive stature and was like gold dust within the industry.”
He added: “She loved agents and agents loved her and, while she had been slowing down her activity in recent years, she remained welcome in every independent agency in Northern Ireland.
“She had a beautiful family who were with her when she passed, and she will be deeply missed.”
Oasis Travel managing director Sandra Corkin, who knew Short for more than 40 years, said: “She was the queen of the cruise industry in Northern Ireland having worked for P&O Cruises, NCL, Celebrity, Silversea and Crystal Cruises.
“She also had a long association with the Barbados Tourist Board and most recently worked with Caribtours.
“She was a dear friend who was fiercely loyal, trustworthy and dependable and her passing will leave a huge void in the Northern Ireland travel industry.”
Corkin added: “Not only was she a wonderful ambassador for the companies she represented, but she forged so many close friendships with people who she fondly referred to as ‘my agents’.
“Personally, I will always be grateful that she was a huge source of professional and personal inspiration to me. Her passing is a huge loss.”
Amanda Middler, Silversea’s key strategic account manager for Scotland, Northern Ireland & Ireland, said: “Nan was a stalwart of the Northern Ireland travel industry with an association to Silversea in the early days. She was a great advocate of cruise and will be sorely missed by everyone.”