Maintaining and improving our product knowledge (such as hotels and venues) is key to our business, so we've worked with our sister company Capita Travel and Events to compile a list of "Destination Champions" from across the business!
Our Destination Champions will drive knowledge for their specific location, keep up to date with industry and location, raise awareness around new venue openings, support with effective venue sourcing, and attend relevant FAM trips and industry events.
Here they are...
York: Shane Hind
Shane's worked with us for over seven years, initially working in hotels before joining the venue find team. Booking York daily, he keeps himself up to date with new venues and continues to grow his knowledge. Working in meetings and events gives you industry wide experience, and as such has learnt a considerable amount in such a short length of time.
He prides himself on his customer service skills and always delights his customers. Shane enjoys travelling and has been to destinations that normally wouldn’t have had the opportunity to thanks to his career.
Edinburgh: Jayne Swift
Jayne's worked with us for 11 years and has a wealth of experience specialising in the venue, events and conference industry. She's always happy to expand her knowledge base and share her experiences within the office and at other sites. Jane is constantly on the lookout for something new and fresh to exceed our clients briefs and by doing so has gained a great reputation as a trusted consultant.
Glasgow: Kayleigh Hassett
Kayleigh has over 14 years’ experience in the travel industry and continues to learn and progress throughout her career. Since joining us, she's worked with both M&E, travel and group accommodation across many clients. She's also one of our Supplier Champions supporting our partners when in the Derby office and is keen to get out and support Glasgow soon.
Manchester: Samantha Kenny
Sammy has 12 years industry experience; she started with us in 2007 before briefly leaving to work at a venue as an event executive. We were pleased to have her back, and her industry experience has only strengthened her knowledge. Sammy works on a number of accounts for venue find and groups.
Reading: Lee Taylor
Lee has over 15 years’ experience with us, predominately within meetings and events, but has also managed hotels and rail. Lee has chosen to concentrate on Reading mainly due to being able to keep a key customer up to date on options for meetings, events and team building, who had just recently relocated to the area.
Liverpool: Beck Martin
Beck has worked within venue find for over two years and has chosen Liverpool as her destination as she grew up there and books unique and quirky venues within the city regularly for the main clients that she works with.
Slough and Windsor: Dawn Thorburn
Dawn has worked with us for 10 years, but has over 30 years' industry experience. In that time she worked as a travel buyer for Asda, worked in hotels and with two agencies. Venues are her passion! Dawn covers Slough and Windsor, but also helps with London as her customers book unique and prestigious venues.
Leeds - Amanda Iliopoulos
Amanda has worked in the industry since the age of 16 - working her way through the ranks in hotels, from Housekeeping to Event Coordinator (but still looking forever young). After spending 6 1/2 years at the Grand Hotel Brighton, she moved back up North and has been with NYS York for nearly two years. Amanda is looking forward to exploring Leeds in more detail as it's one of her favourite destinations
Newcastle upon Tyne: Kate Hope
Kate has 12 years’ experience within venue find, specialising in UK, International and Pharmaceutical bookings. Kate chose Newcastle as she’s married to a very proud Geordie and has great knowledge of the city and unique venues
Heathrow - Fiona Mitchell
Fiona joined NYS in July 2016, having previously worked as a sales assistant at M&S. She has recently completed a Business Admin Diploma (level Three), was a runner up for the Conference News 30 - Under Thirty awards and is a member of the Social Committee organising office events. Since working with us, Fiona has been working with clients at Heathrow and loves to keep up with the latest airport openings.
Derby and Nottingham: Khloe Grinter
Khloe has experience with accommodation, group bookings and more recently meetinngs - especially for SSE and Boots who make the majority of their bookings for Derby and Nottingham.
London: Ruby Ortiz-Mulroy
Ruby hsa worked with us for a year as a Conference Consultant in the London office, having previously worked as an International Venue Consultant. Ruby is well-travelled and has knowledge of different languages (French, German, Spanish and Tagalog). She had worked in various international hotel chains abroad organising events/meetings. Ruby currently lives in London and is looking forward to exploring more hotels/venues to meet our customers' needs.
London: Lisa Exall
Lisa has worked in the travel industry since 2001, and has worked in M&E for the last 6 years, specialising in international bookings, conference and larger events. She's always had a passion for travel, and knows finding the right location and venue for a client's event as essential in order to exceed expectations, give them new insights along with exceptional service,
London: Ana Virlana
Ana has recently started working as a conference consultant, and regularly attends conferences and product knowledge trips to increase her industry knowledge. She is always eager to learn, explore and help where she can and regularly books venues in London, Euston in particular.