SPECIAL REPORT
Three of this year’s Shine Award nominees catch up with Chloe Berman
Women winning
in the workplace
Pioneering women in the travel
industry will be attending a ceremony
at London Metropolitan
University later this month 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 fi gures
met at the Abu Dhabi Tourism
Offi ce 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.
THE YOUNG ACHIEVER
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.
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 fi rst 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 fi nd 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 aff ected us. I started a campaign with
the local press and they removed the charges.”
20 | Travel Weekly | November 21 2008
The travel trade’s leading ladies will be celebrated at the fourth Shine Awards
THE ENTREPRENEUR
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.
Why the judges chose her:
“Julia is very well known in the
THE CORPORATE WOMAN
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 MyTravel-
Lite, 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.
trade. She has set up a successful
business and diversifi ed into
online training. She also did good
work modernising the AWTE.”
What fi rst 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
The online agency sells everything
from Arabic classes in Cairo
to surfi ng lessons in Portugal.
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 confi dence in
setting up her own business.”
What fi rst 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
FULL LIST OF 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 Jeff ery, 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
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.”
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 fi rst managing
director role at MyTravel, and
starting my own business.”
Career low: “When I moved from
Suff olk to London to work for
Teletext, I knew it wasn’t for me
within three weeks, but stayed for
a year.”
www.travelweekly.co.uk
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