United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Ex-Gold Medal boss joins Southall Travel
Former Gold Medal Travel chief Ann Gilbert has returned to the trade as a director of Southall Travel.
She has taken on the position of business development director at the London-based agency, which expects to achieve £40 million turnover this year.
Ms Gilbert, who spent 13 years at Gold Medal ending up as managing director, recently sold internet travel business Airfares where she was the major shareholder. After leaving Gold Medal she set up a property business in the Isle of Man.
Established 20 years ago to cater for the Asian market, Southall Travel has since expanded and claims to be the first UK travel company to create a state of the art call centre in India, where it employs 200 staff. The company now specialises in selling flights and tailormade package holidays.
Managing director Kuljinder Bahia took over the business five years ago aged 24 when annual turnover was just £500,000. Since then he has recruited Samuel Eliatamby, ex-Inspirations and British Airways Holidays, as operations director and Bill Faulkner, ex-Cosmos, as product director.
Mr Bahia said: “With Southall Travel heading for another record year we need to have a good senior management infrastructure in place. Ann fits the bill perfectly and we are now ready to take Southall Travel to its next phase.”
Ms Gilbert said she was attracted to the role due to the “exciting plans” in place at Southall Travel.
Report by Phil Davies
Related News Stories:
Phil Davies
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Storm Lilian travel chaos as bank holiday flights cancelled