grantholmes's Channel

20+ years of experience in Tour Operations, Hotel, Cruise, Marketing, Sales and Training.

My background includes managing an upscale Caribbean Gateway for a leading British Tour Operator in 1990/1 producing best resort team performance results worldwide to managing operations, training and development (approx. 225,000 tourists & 50 staff) in the Algarve 1992 summer season.

I had the good fortune to set up, recruit, train and develop First Choices Cruise from inception. Here I directed operations from 1999 to 2000. Here my team exceeded high budget expectations by 50% for sales and by 25% for Customer service in the first year and a half of operation.

This success led to my appointment at Festival Cruises in 2000, where through a quick succession of promotions my position evolved to Director of On Board Revenue, Shore Excursions & Tour Operations, featuring a 110 million euro income generation budget. I am proud of personally innovating an industry first by creating revenue and customer service linked training, that along with a unique revenue strategy delivered consistent performance results across the Festival Cruises fleet. In 3 years gross revenue doubled from 2000 to 2003, whilst increasing yield by 20% and improving customer service in harmony.

Today, it is my pleasure to spearhead Progress where we have managed to build an impressive client list, including but not limited to Costa Crociere, Aida Cruises, IberoCruceros, Swan Hellenic Cruises, Silversea Cruises, First Choice Holidays along with international ports, Tourism companies and Government bodies.