Why Choose VJM Business Support?
Twenty years ago, when I was starting out in the travel industry, I didn’t have a plan. I was too busy! So instead of plotting a career path, I relied on skills that didn’t require thought. Instinctive traits such as the ability to listen; being able to empathise with colleagues and clients; dependability, honesty and intuition – and a bucket load of hard work.
I gained a reputation as someone who could deliver what was required, smoothly, on time, without a fuss.
It paid off.
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I went on to enjoy 10 years working for a market leader in global travel, 'The MyTravel Group', managing departments, and launching the groups 'Affiliate and Partnership' programmes for their 12 websites, including MyTravel.com, Airtours.co.uk and Directholidays.co.uk. Collectively, group affiliate sales accounted for 16% of online bookings with Airtours and Direct Holidays consistently achieving top 3 positions in the UK's travel affiliate industry.
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Following a two-year stint as 'Travel Account Director' for UK network, ‘Affiliate Future’, I joined 'On the Beach' - one of the UK’s leading online retailers of beach holidays; an innovative, travel technology ‘heavyweight’ and market disrupter.
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Within the first 12 months, I was in a senior role, designing strategies, managing third parties, increasing traffic and reducing spend. Core responsibilities included leading affiliation programmes to acquire new partnerships with high-traffic travel sites, including TripAdvisor, Trivago and Travel Supermarket and adapting to serve as ‘Head of Transfers’, for the company’s ‘in-resort’ ground transportation operation.
During this time I managed the successful migration of the transfer platform to ‘in-house’, realising £3.4m (+16%) in the first-year post migration, and £5m the following year - achieved by optimising product and onsite exposure. I delivered further growth increasing net revenue in the same year by £400k, through supplier commercial negotiations - all this achieved with minimal resource. On the Affiliate side, whilst leading the roll out for inclusion on key partner websites, I delivered a return on investment of 135% using insights from attribution scoring, resulting in spend release and investment in new partner placements.
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Four years later I was promoted to Head of Product Marketing, responsible for strategic project management, launching new products, and optimising digital marketing. This was a highly visible role, engaging with internal/external stakeholders and cross-functional teams, to define the strategy and roadmap for new products and developments. As project lead on the company's new 'Long Haul' initiative, I helped to deliver 420% increase in revenue to Dubai and the Indian Ocean, managed an external partnership achieving c£4m TTV in long haul destinations (across the two-year term), solidified the relationship with Emirates to pioneer their first UK direct integration, and led the onsite 'optimisation' project, boosting revenue and net margin by 157%, through new destinations and an enhanced proposition.
I joined On the Beach in it's relative infancy, and for many years, we enjoyed a culture derived from a start-up business in rapid growth. A wonderful team pulling together, happy to take on different roles and responsibilities for the good of the organisation. Budgets were tight, projects were ever evolving and changing, and we worked to extremely tight deadlines - but it certainly paid off. On the Beach listed on the London Stock Exchange in in 2015 and are now the UK's leading online retailer of short-haul beach holidays.
In 2021, I joined the Travel Team at News UK, on a fixed term contract (cover) for 6 months.
My role included, overall responsibility for the P&L of the Travel Partnership proposition for all titles (The Sun, Sunday Times and The Times) - setting and managing budgets, forecasts and contribution.
I delivered a strategy for the digital Travel proposition, introducing relevant new products and services both for print and digital and worked alongside Commercial, Editorial and Marketing, to drive customer acquisition and retention.
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On the way, I gained valuable management experience. But I never lost sight of the skills and effort that had been so vital in getting me there.
I can now bring a combination of these core strengths – experience, instinct and hard work – to VJM Business Support. More importantly, I can bring them to your business.
Because whether you want to hand over your day-to-day management or bring a product to market, I will get the job done smoothly, on time and without fuss – just like I’ve always done.
Victoria McQuillan, VJM Business Support