getabed.co.uk

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Meet the team

At getabed, we strongly, and rightly feel our staff are our biggest asset. We count ourselves lucky to have some of the most accomplished, capable and motivated staff in the UK travel industry. We try very hard to continually develop our staff and sustain our team spirit. Keeping the ‘small company’ atmosphere and spirit as we grow is challenging, but is something we are very successful at.

With customer service our number one priority, we only bring on board team players, who share our passion for the highest levels of service. This is an imperative component in our achievement of having, arguably, the best reputation for customer care.

We are so proud of our staff that we want our customers to meet them all so they can see who they are dealing with. We believe this helps in building a rapport with our customers, which is vital to our continuing success.

Please meet our team…..

Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson
Job Title
Product Manager
Start Date
30 March 2010
Experience
I have worked in travel for 8 years now, working for a variety of operator types from upmarket to mainstream, brochured to online, always in a product management role. I started at Sovereign Holidays and First Choice where I worked on cities and short-haul beach products, then I moved to Dreamticket where I managed the Indian Ocean, Far East and Egypt areas as well as producing their consumer magazine every quarter.
Interests

As well as being travel-obsessed and keeping one eye firmly on the next hotly-tipped destination, I love writing (usually still travel related!) and have an interest in languages, so I try to keep up my degree French and basic Spanish when I get the chance. I also used to study art, so I like to keep my pencils sharpened and attend a few life drawing classes when I get the time.

Q Where would you like to live in the world?

A Barcelona, Spain

Q What’s the highest place you’ve been?

A The World's Highest City - Potosi in Bolivia, South America - a stifling 4090m altitude

Q What's your best physical feature?

A My nose

Q What’s the worst present you’ve ever received?

A A porcelain doll(!)

Q What’s your motto in life?

A Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things

Q What is the most daring thing you've ever done?

A Cycling the World's Most Dangerous Road - a narrow gravel road with sheer drops and no shortage of hairpin bends!

Q What couldn't you live with out?

A Increasingly, my iPhone

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A San Blas Islands, Panama

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A The Chedi, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Andy Winstanley

Andy Winstanley
Job Title
Director
Start Date
28 November 2005
Experience
I'm in my 20th year in the travel industry and my experience includes tour operating, retail, e-commerce, marketing and sales. I have many responsibilities including co-ordinating our IT projects, on and offline marketing, HR and assisting fellow directors in the day to day running of the company. I am hugely proud of what we have achieved so far at getabed and thank you all for your part in our growth and success!
Interests

Travel, family life and all sport but particularly my beloved Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club!

Q Where would you like to live in the world?

A There’s nowhere better than Brighton – Sussex by the Sea!

Q What’s the highest place you’ve been?

A World Trade Centre, New York

Q What vices do you have?

A Red Wine

Q What’s the best present you’ve ever received?

A My three children

Q What’s the worst present you’ve ever received?

A A boot tidy for the car!

Q In a film about your life, what actor(ess) would play you?

A Richard Gere

Q What couldn't you live with out?

A The Internet

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A Polzeath, Cornwall

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Serena Beach Hotel, Malindi, Kenya

Debbie Stuart

Debbie Stuart
Job Title
Credit Controller
Start Date
22 November 2006
Experience
I send out statements and invoices to all our agents and occasionally call to follow up when payment is due. With the exception of a break to bring up my children and a spell as an estate agent prior to this role, my employment has always been in the travel industry.
Interests

My hobbies are gardening (in particular, growing vegetables), walking in our fabulous countryside, reading and travelling.

Q What’s the highest place you’ve been?

A The Alps

Q What one thing would you take on a desert island?

A Toothbrush

Q What one person would you choose to take on a desert island?

A Guthrie!

Q Are you a collector of anything?

A Corks!

Q What’s the first thing you notice about people?

A Their eyes and handshake

Q If you could own any car, what would it be?

A Aston Martin

Q Dream celebrity date?

A Sean Connery

Q What couldn't you live with out?

A My Family

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A Carribean

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A St. Georges, Paris

Guthrie

Guthrie
Job Title
Company Mascot
Start Date
12 March 2005
Experience
I am a British Bulldog and my Dad is Matt Stuart, the MD here at getabed. I had no travel experience when I started here at getabed as a 10 week old puppy. After my initial nervousness of these new surroundings, I soon settled in to my daily routine of sleeping from morning until noon, have a bite to eat and then out for a walk about 13:00. On returning to the office, I settle in to my afternooon nap which takes me up to approx 16:30. I then have a little wander around the office, have my dinner and then go off home with Dad. It's a dogs life!!
Interests

Roast chicken, cheese, chasing tennis balls and frisbies....oh and I quite like sleeping too!!

Q Where would you like to live in the world?

A My Grandma’s - where I get thoroughly spoilt.

Q What was your nickname at school?

A Churchill

Q What’s a useless fact about yourself?

A I like cheese

Q What’s your best physical feature?

A My legs

Q Are you a collector of anything?

A Vets bills

Q What’s your motto in life?

A Take things slow

Q Dream celebrity date?

A Lassy

Q What couldn't you live with out?

A Sleep

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A The South downs

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Grandma’s

Kelly Bolton

Kelly Bolton
Job Title
Senior Customer Support Agent
Start Date
24 July 2006
Experience
I've been at Getabed for 2 years. My role here is group enquiries and customer support. I've had 3 years at Thomas Cook and 2 years at an independant travel agent.
Interests

Gymnastics, cinema and very lately, playing with my lovely Wii!

Q Who’s the most famous person you’ve met?

A Nadia Comaneci (Romanian Olympic Gymnast)

Q What one thing would you take on a desert island?

A The biggest book I could carry

Q What is the first thing you would do if you were invisible?

A Hide in 10 Downing Street to see what they do all day in there.

Q What’s the best present you’ve ever received?

A An engagement ring

Q What’s your motto in life?

A I plan to live forever, so far so good!

Q Who is your favourite TV personality?

A David Tennant

Q If you could own any car, what would it be?

A VW Camper Van

Q If you could be animal, what would it be?

A A cat as I love my sleep

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A Maldives, South Africa, Orlando FL

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Lukimbi Safari Lodge, Kruger, SA

Lucy Watson

Lucy Watson
Job Title
Product Assistant
Start Date
1 December 2007
Experience
I have worked in travel for 6 years and previously worked for Panorama and Manos Holidays, Club 18-30 and Flexibletrips. I've been at Getabed for 2 years starting off as a customer support agent and I have recently moved over to the product department. I assist in sourcing the products we feature and making sure they appear on the website correctly, updating hotel content and images.
Interests

I enjoy socialising, shopping and spending as much time as I can on holiday.

Q What’s a useless fact about yourself?

A Im a twin.

Q What’s the highest place you’ve been?

A Eiffel Tower.

Q Who’s the most famous person you’ve met?

A Simon Cowell

Q What is the first thing you would do if you were invisible?

A Go shopping in the most expensive shops and not pay.

Q What’s the best present you’ve ever received?

A Swimming with dolphins

Q What’s the first thing you notice about people?

A Teeth

Q Dream celebrity date?

A Jamie Redknapp

Q If you could be animal, what would it be?

A Dolphin.

Q What couldn't you live with out?

A Mobile phone

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A Orlando and Ibiza

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Radisson SAS Sharm.

Mark Hopper

Mark Hopper
Job Title
Sales Director
Start Date
3 November 2008
Experience
Oversee the Sales function at Getabed and to maintain relationships and grow new ones. 24 years in Travel! From overseas rep to National Sales manager roles at ILG, First Choice, Hays and Jarvis, Island Cruises, Argo Holidays.
Interests

I love languages, my children are my hobby, I also Ski, play football and still have a season ticket at Sunderland!

Q Where would you like to live in the world?

A Spain

Q What was your nickname at school?

A Chopper

Q What’s the highest place you’ve been?

A Hintertux Glacier

Q Who’s the most famous person you’ve met?

A Pierce Brosnan

Q What one thing would you take on a desert island?

A I-pod

Q What’s your best physical feature?

A Smile

Q What vices do you have?

A Good French wine

Q Are you a collector of anything?

A Champagne

Q What’s the best present you’ve ever received?

A Vintage Krug

Q What’s the worst present you’ve ever received?

A Knitted Jumper

Q What’s your motto in life?

A The only way to be on time is to be early!

Q If you could own any car, what would it be?

A Aston Martin

Q Dream celebrity date?

A Fern Cotton (Not DOT)!!

Q What couldn't you live with out?

A Sunderland AFC

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A Dubai, Malaysia, Tobago and the BVI’s

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Evassen in Huah hin Thailand, Hilton Rangali Maldives and Sandy Lane Barbados

Stevie Glover-Banks

Stevie Glover-Banks
Job Title
Customer Support Agent
Start Date
28 June 2010
Experience
After studying Travel and Tourism at college I worked overseas in Lanzarote for 2 years with Thomas Cook as a Transfer and Airport Rep. In April I returned to the UK and I am really pleased to have recently started here at Getabed!
Interests

I really enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I also like going to the cinema, swimming and now I have more time hopefully I will learn more Spanish.

Q Where would you like to live in the world?

A There is nowhere like home!

Q What’s a useless fact about yourself?

A I can fold my tongue in half

Q Who would you choose to take on a desert island?

A All my friends

Q Are you collecting anything?

A Yes, cuddly toys

Q What’s the best present you’ve ever received?

A My laptop

Q What's your motto in life?

A Good Times!

Q What's the first thing you notice about people?

A Their hands

Q If you could be an animal, what would it be?

A A cat

Q What are your favourite travel destinations?

A Lanzarote

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Princesa Yaiza or the Arrecife Gran

Matt Stuart

Matt Stuart
Job Title
Managing Director
Start Date
10 December 1998
Experience
As a 20 year old having left college, I had no previous travel industry experience when I took over Key Resorts Ltd now trading as getabed.co.uk. It was a very small company at the time and was one of 2 or 3 accommodation suppliers to travel agents at the time. The business model has never changed and we are now one of the only truly, trade only suppliers in the marketplace. I learnt what I was doing very quickly as it was a case of 'sink or swim'. We only sold USA accommodation up until 2003, which is strange to remember now, as it contrasts so heavily now with the 50,000 + hotels worldwide we now feature!! The company has grown year on year since I took over in 1998 and with 100% growth year on year in the last 2 years, getabed is flying and we are all very excited about the future! It is both rewarding and encouraging to know that companies like ours can succeed by focusing 100% on customer service.
Interests

I play football on Saturdays and follow Everton - The peoples club, very closely. My other interests include, socialising with friends and looking after my dog, Guthrie, who is also the company mascot!

Q What’s the highest place you’ve been?

A College

Q What is the first thing you would do if you were invisible?

A Head to the bank

Q What vices do you have?

A Rum

Q What’s the first thing you notice about people?

A Eyes

Q Who is your favourite TV personality?

A Will Ferrell

Q If you could own any car, what would it be?

A Aston Martin Vantage

Q In a film about your life, what actor(ess) would play you?

A Ricky Gervais

Q What is the most daring thing you've ever done?

A Wing walk

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A South Africa

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Tongsai Bay, Ko Samui, Thailand

Peter Mugwambi

Peter Mugwambi
Job Title
Accounts
Start Date
6 October 2008
Experience
I have over 2 years experience working within Finance in Commerce and Industry. I previously worked for a manufacturing Company (Manhattan Furniture) as a Bought Ledger Clerk. I am CAT qualified and ACCA part qualified. My current role as an Accounts assistant involves functions within the accounts department, including Reconciliation of supplier statements, allocation of receipts, assisting with credit control, handling accounts queries and assisting with preparation of management accounts.
Interests

Swimming, weight lifting and I love horror films although I am yet to see a film that will really scare me to bits! I also enjoy spending time with my family and am fascinated by animal programmes that involve, Lions, Crocodiles and Snakes although Crocodiles really scare me.

Q What was your nickname at school?

A Nimbo, still is up to now

Q What’s a useless fact about yourself?

A I can open Beer Bottles with my Teeth

Q Who’s the most famous person you’ve met?

A Trevor Nelson

Q What’s your motto in life?

A Always gear towards improvement

Q What’s the first thing you notice about people?

A Thier dress sense

Q Who is your favourite TV personality?

A Alan Sugar

Q If you could own any car, what would it be?

A BMW M5 SALOON

Q Dream celebrity date?

A Mariah Carey: Singer

Q If you could be animal, what would it be?

A Tiger : Oldest resident of the Jungle

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A Mauritius : Beautiful Sandy Beach

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Seatle, Brighton Marina: That’s were I had my Wedding Reception

Rebecca Oakley

Rebecca Oakley
Job Title
Customer Support Agent
Start Date
14 December 2009
Experience
I have been interested in the travel industry ever since I was at secondary school, I went on to college in London to study NVQ Leisure and tourism and then AVCE Travel and Tourism at Worthing College after I had moved with my family to the south coast. I enjoyed studying travel as it gave me the chance to have a lot of hands-on experience with regular trips and independent study which involved having to visit different tourism sites for research etc. I enjoyed it so much I went on to University and studied Travel and Tourism Management in Brighton, I enjoyed my time at university and graduated with a very proud mum! I have worked for several airlines including First Choice and most recently British Airways, I began working on check-in which was the most fascinating job so far for me, passengers at an airport can be the most funniest, rude and entertaining people you can ever meet! I then moved sections and worked in the employee services department which was office based and gave me the chance to get involved in more of the admin side of the airline and looking after the staff. I love to travel and hopefully will get to see every corner of the world throughout my life, I love to experience new things and meet new people and can not think of a better way than travelling around the world! (may have to skip some places if no plug socket for my GHD’s available!)
Interests

I love to shop, I can not get enough of shopping! I especially have an unhealthy obsession with shoes and bags! I also like to go out with friends either shopping, cinema or for a good catch up with a bottle! I enjoy reading, playing my DS and trying to attend the gym when I can be bothered!

Q What’s a useless fact about yourself?

A I am slightly addicted to Haribo and pick n mix

Q What's the highest place you have ever been?

A As far as you are allowed to go up in the Empire State Building

Q Who's the most famous person you have met?

A Rihanna and Tony Blair

Q What's the first thing you would do if you were invisible?

A Head straight to River Island and take as many shoes and bags as I could carry!

Q What's the best present you have ever received?

A My laptop

Q What's the first thing you notice about a person?

A What shoes they are wearing and the condition of them

Q Dream Celebrity date?

A LL Cool J

Q If you could be a animal, what would it be?

A A cat

Q What couldn't you live without?

A My car

Q What's your favourite travel destination?

A New York

Steven Ades

Steven Ades
Job Title
Financial Controller
Start Date
20 August 2007
Experience
Responsible for managing the day to day finances of the company and producing the management accounts. Previous Experience: Finance manager for Unicorn Training Group (2005-07), AAT qualified (2005), ACCA qualified (2010).
Interests

Golf, Cricket, Football, Eating out.

Q Who’s the most famous person you’ve met?

A Nelson Mandela

Q What one person would you choose to take on a desert island?

A Wiiiilllllssssoooon!

Q What is the first thing you would do if you were invisible?

A Sneak into Girls Alouds Dressing room!

Q What’s your favourite quote?

A I spent all my money on booze and women, the rest I just wasted. (George Best)

Q What’s the first thing you notice about people?

A Dress Sense

Q In a film about your life, what actor(ess) would play you?

A Ben Affleck

Q Dream celebrity date?

A Reese Witherspoon

Q If you could be animal, what would it be?

A Domestic Cat

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A Cape Town, South Africa

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A Access Pool, Karon, Phuket Thailand

Tara Funnell

Tara Funnell
Job Title
Customer Support Manager
Start Date
1 May 2008
Experience
I have worked in travel for 4 and half years. My first job in travel was working for Bath Travel where I specialised in cruises and tailor-made packages all over the world. I also worked at Thomas Cook for just over a year. I was delighted to take on the role of Customer Support Manager in November 2009 following a year and a half working within the department.
Interests

My hobbies are socialising with friends and family travelling. I enjoy different cultures. learning languages, badminton and swimming.

Q What one thing would you take on a desert island?

A Lipgloss

Q What one person would you choose to take on a desert island?

A My Boyfriend

Q What is the first thing you would do if you were invisible?

A I would spy on people

Q Who is your favourite TV personality?

A Dermot O'Leary

Q If you could own any car, what would it be?

A The latest Mini Cooper that I designed

Q Dream celebrity date?

A There would be two, Enrique Inglesias and Johnny Depp

Q If you could be animal, what would it be?

A A Tiger

Q What couldn't you live with out?

A My phone as it helps me keep in touch with everyone

Q What is your favourite travel destinations?

A Cape Town, Sri Lanka, The Maldives and Colorado

Q What is your Favourite hotel visited?

A The Hilton Malta