Look whos joined local holiday specialists Fred. Olsen Travel
Posted 15th December 2011
Fred. Olsen Travel is delighted to announce that Gemma Holland has been appointed as the new Branch Manager at the Ipswich Branch in Upper Brook Street.
Louise Tweed, Group Retail Manager at Fred. Olsen Travel, said:
Gemma adds a great deal of knowledge and experience to the Fred. Olsen Travel team. She has travelled to many different and exciting destinations worldwide, and brings with her a huge amount of expertise and a real passion for travel, which we know our customers are going to find invaluable.
Gemmas career in travel started at the age of 15, when she spent two weeks on a work experience placement with a local travel agent – after which she was smitten by the travel bug! After leaving school, she was taken on as part of a youth training scheme at Intatravel, Ipswich, now known as First Choice. Gemma worked her way up to the position of Assistant Manager there, spending seven years within the Ipswich Branch. An opportunity then came up for her to trial a new concept overseas, and she went on to work as a travel agent within hotels in Turkey and Egypt.
Gemma really enjoyed working overseas and decided to become a holiday representative working in Turkey in the summer and in Egypt in the winter – this was her most challenging role yet, but an experience she found very rewarding. When it was time to return to the UK, Gemma joined the TUI Group as Agency Sales Coordinator for Imaginative Traveller.
Gemma then got itchy feet and decided to join the cabin crew of easyJet. Fortunately for Fred. Olsen, she now feels the need to put her career back on the ground and is bringing her extensive knowledge and expertise to the team at Fred. Olsen Travel.
Gemma’s favourite destinations are Turkey and Vietnam, and her top tip for an adventure in 2012? My advice to all you intrepid explorers out there is to take a trip to the very north of Norway next year to sample what is undoubtedly Nature’s most spectacular phenomenon, the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. Spring 2012 is supposed to be the best time in decades to witness the world’s most amazing light show, so get booking now…and you may be lucky enough to get a good glimpse!
You can pay Gemma a visit and learn more at the Fred. Olsen Travel Shop 20a Upper Brook Street, Ipswich, or call her on 01473 232929 or visit the website at www.travelwithfredolsen.co.uk