With International Women’s Day 2025 taking place on March 8th, award-winning islands and beaches specialist, The Turquoise Holiday Company, celebrates the women that have made up 75% of its team, many for over 10 years. From first jobs to engagements through to weddings, honeymoons and family holidays, Turquoise Holidays is thrilled to support women at every stage of life.   Aside from an all-female marketing, product and operations team, the company benefits from the vision of female Co-Founder and Product Director, Sue Bell. After studying in Edinburgh, Sue spent three years travelling the world and discovered her love of remote destinations, particularly Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Now in charge of sourcing the product that the team use to create itineraries for clients, Sue takes pride in ensuring everything the company sells exceeds client expectations. As for her advice to fellow women and girls, she comments: “Don’t try to see beyond the horizon – often the richest experiences are those that you stumble upon because of where you are and who you’re with. Explore, dream, discover and embrace each new experience as a life-changing memory…”   To celebrate International Women’s Day, Turquoise Holidays shine their Industry Spotlight on six inspiring women transforming the hospitality industry today…  

International Women’s Day 2025: Industry Spotlight

  Marteyne Van Well – Regional General Manager for Six Senses Laamu and Six Senses Kanuhura, Maldives   Equipped with a philosophy of credible honesty, Marteyne’s career in Hospitality Management spans over three decades – more than a third of which has been spent in the Maldives – with a reputation for shaping long-term relationships whilst delivering outstanding service and financial results. After graduating from the Hotel School The Hague, Marteyne spent over ten years in sales and marketing roles in the US before moving into operations and general management. A certified rescue diver with a passion for underwater photography, Marteyne is dedicated to Marine Conservation, devoting her efforts to protecting the biologically diverse reefs around Laamu Atoll.   Christene Douglas – Director of Marketing & Sales, Matangi Private Island Resort, Fiji   Director of Marketing & Sales, Christene takes pride in looking after the island’s fantastic gardens, inspired by her ecologist father’s work with injured turtles and other sea life. Her family, originally of Scottish and English descent, have owned and ran the island for generations, having first arrived in the 1870s and worked the land as a coconut plantation.   Janelle M. Hopkin – President and Managing Director of Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada   A graduate of the prestigious Glion Institute of Higher Education in Montreux, Switzerland, Janelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in Business Administration and Hospitality Management. After returning home in 2006, Janelle spent the next 14 years learning all aspects of the business under the tutelage of her late father, Sir Royston Hopkin KCMG, the resort’s founder and its former Chairman and Managing Director. Initially a Management Trainee, Janelle worked her way through the ranks and eventually became Deputy Managing Director in 2015 before her appointment as his successor in early 2020. Successfully steering the business through the Covid-19 pandemic, Janelle has continued to transform the resort to meet the evolving needs of consumers. A proud mother of one, Janelle has not only served on the Board of Directors of the Grenada Tourism Authority since 2022 but also serves as a Trustee on the Board of the Queen Elizabeth Home for Children.   Karolin Troubetzkoy – Executive Director, Marketing and Operations of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain Resorts, St Lucia   Karolin has been spearheading the marketing and daily operations of these award-winning resorts since 1986, with Jade Mountain Resort added in 2004. A citizen of Saint Lucia, Karolin has served in various volunteer tourism industry leadership positions on the island and the Caribbean as a whole, including as President of the St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association and of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) – the second woman to serve as President in its 50+ year history – and currently leads the CHTA Education Foundation. What’s more, she was appointed Envoy to the Caribbean Challenge Initiative and serves as Chair of the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund and Caribbean Biodiversity Fund. Karolin is celebrated for her many philanthropic endeavours, devoted to several causes such as disaster relief, local craftsmen, farmers, education as well as cerebral palsy. In May 2023, Karolin and her late husband, Nick, were honoured with the Caribbean Hotel and Resort Investment Summit Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of their significant industry contributions.   Lisa Sykes – Co-owner & Marketing Director of Naibor Camp, Kenya   Lisa and her husband became partners in Naibor Camp in 2021, applying their combined understanding of luxury travel (having visited 91 and 62 countries respectively) to inject style and safari panache into the Naibor experience. Under the guidance of the camp’s founder and renowned safari guide, Nigel Archer, Lisa has transformed the camp’s marketing, design and style stakes. As one of the few independent, owner-managed camps in the heart of the Masai Mara Reserve, Naibor proudly maintains its boutique status with hands-on management. Lisa goes above and beyond to ensure that it is both authentic and of an exceptional standard, personally staying in each tent quarterly to guarantee quality.   Mariella Avino – Managing Director & Owner of Palazzo Avino, Italy   First opened in 1997, sisters Mariella and Attilia Avino took over the hotel from their father, Giuseppe Avino, some years ago, adding a dose of colour and personality with a two-year renovation. Affectionately known as the ‘Pink Palace’ to the locals, Palazzo Avino became their childhood home when their father discovered this abandoned former 12th century villa and set about rescuing it. Having since retired, Giuseppe now sits in the lobby with his faithful dachshund, Richard. With a background in banking, travel and tourism, eldest daughter Mariella began to work on the hotel in 2010, going on to create a brand-new identity in 2013 by changing the name and redesigning the furnishings with her mother. Drawing on her personal passion for art and design, she created an engaging story with the interiors, full of soft pink nuances, and a lion as a logo. Now, Mariella runs the hotel, with her love of eclectic art and antiques evident throughout.   Gillian Tan – General Manager of Bunga Raya, Borneo   Gillian Tan, whose family owns this charming eco-resort, has been the driving force behind its transformation into a sustainable haven. Located on the remote island of Gaya off Borneo’s coast, the resort boasts its own Marine Ecology Research Centre of which Gillian is extremely proud. As General Manager, Gillian ensures guests have an unforgettable experience in this privileged location, and her passion for scuba diving often leads her to join guests in exploring the vibrant underwater world.   Eva Ivara – Co-Founder & Creative Director of Cap Karoso, Indonesia   French native Eva Ivara is the creative force behind Cap Koroso, a luxury resort on the remote island of Sumba. After visiting in 2017, she and her husband were captivated by the island's untouched beauty, rich culture, and tranquil beaches, which led them to purchase land and create the stunning, sought-after retreat. With her background in luxury brand development – having worked for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Dom Pérignon – Eva has shaped Cap Karoso into a place that authentically showcases Sumba’s local culture and natural beauty, while successfully promoting the resort to the international market.   Khun Kate Kemp – Owner & Executive Director of The Sarojin, Thailand   As the owner and visionary behind this gorgeous boutique hotel in Khao Lak, Khun Kate Kemp set up the company in October 2005 with her husband, Andrew Kemp. Equipped with over 30 years of experience in international sales, marketing and brand management, it was her dream to create a retreat akin to a country house among friends, where service is personalised, relaxed and free.  The spacious gardens, intimate service, and sublime food and drink offerings make it a special retreat that stands out from the rest.   Khun Kade (Charintip Tiyaphorn) – Owner Representative & Head of Sales of Pimalai Resort & Spa, Thailand   A hands-on owner, Khun Kade (Charintip Tiyaphorn) is deeply involved in both the management and promotion of this stunning property on the natural island of Koh Lanta, just south of Krabi. Always ready to say ‘yes’, she does everything she can to ensure guests have a wonderful stay in this pristine part of Thailand. It was her father, Mr Anurat Tiyaphorn, whose vision it was to create Pimalai, after seeking a small piece of land on Koh Lanta to spend his retirement. Upon discovering Kantiang Beach, he decided to develop a resort in a way that was environmentally conscious. Highly qualified in business management, Khun Kade holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting as well as a master’s degree in marketing and management, with additional experience in audit control procedures. She took on a major management role at the property in 2014 and now oversees the creation of exceptional guest experiences and the sustainable development of Koh Lanta, with a series of environmental initiatives.

  Islands and beaches specialist tour operator The Turquoise Holiday Company is delighted to announce its 20^th anniversary. As well as celebrating the hurdles and high points of the last 20 years, Turquoise will be launching a wave of celebratory offers and sharing its best kept secrets of bespoke luxury travel over the coming months as the team applaud 20 years of planning dream holidays.   Founded in 2002, by Sue & James Bell and Brian Barton, this family-owned and run business began with a mission to create a truly unique travel business and put the romance and glamour into the industry.  With a focus on customer care and making truly memorable holidays, Sue, James and Brian started like all great small businesses, at the kitchen table. The Gulf War raged, and the bird flu epidemic was at its zenith and with just one computer between them, the brand emerged from the idea of the ubiquitous Tiffany blue box; the colouring becoming a firm representation of the gin-clear, turquoise seas and oceans which surrounded Sue, James and Brian’s favourite destinations.   Launching the business with honeymoons at the core, Tahiti and the islands of the South Pacific remain a spiritual home for Turquoise. At the start, James hand-delivered each honeymoon itinerary with a red rose and bottle of champagne, creating possibly the most romantic travel company in the UK. The business blossomed and 20 years later honeymoons still represent over 50% of the business, with a 30% increase in enquiries having been seen since the pandemic, as couples look for certainty and advice post-covid.   20 years on and over 10,000 honeymoon bookings later (80% of which have used the gift list service as well), Turquoise is well and truly embedded into the lives of thousands of couples.  It was only natural then that many have returned with a family in tow and in summer 2014, the first family brochure was launched, with a dedicated website full of holiday ideas and inspiration for busy parents. The family market continues to grow month on month, and to date, Turquoise has booked over 5,000 family holidays and arranged uncountable, once-in-a-lifetime celebrations.  In 2021, Turquoise expanded its portfolio to include short haul destinations for the first time, introducing hand-picked holidays to Greece, Italy and Ibiza with a curated collection of hotels that have been chosen as they honour Turquoise Holidays’ founding values; boutique travel centered around clear, turquoise waters. Here are some other Turquoise statistics:  

• There has been a seismic shift in booking patterns, with huge demand for late bookings now ‘on trend’. Historically, 80% of Turquoise’s holidays were booked for travel six months in advance and beyond. Now the team is seeing the reverse, with 80% being booked for travel within six months
• Holiday spend is up by 10-15%. This has been fuelled by a weak pound, especially against the dollar, rising air-fares and tax on fuel costs
• Christmas and October Half Term 2022 are already very busy, with prices up 20% on pre-pandemic levels for peak dates
• 40% of Turquoise clients are repeat bookers
• 30% go on two long haul holidays per year
• The average cost of a 7-to-10-night beach holiday has risen from £5,000 to over £12,500 over the past 20 years
• It is now more expensive to travel short haul from UK than long haul during summer school holidays
• 50% of Turquoise clients show interest in staying in an overwater bungalow
• 70% of Turquoise clients would ideally like a private pool
• 27% of Turquoise clients travel one way in economy class, and one way in business class

  The team and their experience remains integral to the success of Turquoise Holidays. Five key words have been printed on the Turquoise business cards from the beginning and continue to remain core founding values - Authentic, Discerning, Original, Refreshing and Unique. The philosophy is simple and revolves around one word - passion - passion for the destinations, passion for exceptional service, and a passion for combining these things with a first hand insight into the countries, islands, regions, hotels and rooms.   So, what of the future and where will the next twenty years take us? James Bell, Managing Director comments, ‘I know we have the strength of a brand for a company three times our size. I know we have the most amazing staff and a book bursting with clients who love what we do. So onwards and upwards, more of the same and new destinations to love and explore. I’d like to expand our new European offering, add to our list of the world’s most beautiful islands and continue offering bespoke tailormade holidays. We will continue to play to our strength as a family run and owned operator, focusing on family owned and run properties around the world. We must be unique, refreshing, discerning, authentic and original in everything we do, making magic happen for our clients. The team we have are very special and I promise to look after them as well as they look after our clients. If we can achieve only this – the next twenty years will be very exciting indeed’.   Watch this space for Turquoise’s top 20 hotels with under 100 rooms, some exceptional savings, and the highs from the last 20 years of travel!