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Ashley Gowing
Managing Director
Set up the business back in 1992 and remains Managing Director today. A qualified football coach, Spurs season ticket holder and very proud Dad to two daughters who love to perform. Professional highlights have included looking after French rugby giants Clermont Auvergne in six European Cup finals, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the company in 2022 and building a hugely experienced team of brilliant individuals, all committed to providing the very best service around in sports, ski and educational travel.
James Gowing
Director
Having joined the business in its infancy, way back in 1995, James has been the operational bedrock of the company for an incredible 30 years. Responsible for company finances, operations and most things technical too, he has huge experience and knowledge of what makes the business work! A speedy winger back in his time on the football field, as a frustrated Spurs fan these days, he knows that the good times are always just around the corner!
Lucy Gowing
Operations Manager (ski and study)
With a background in education, Lucy joined the business as a break from teaching more than 15 years ago and never looked back. As Operations Manager she overseas logistics for our ski programme and our study trips to New York, liaising with customers and suppliers alike. After a successful climb of Kilimanjaro and lots of other fabulous trips besides, she also loves cycling and mountain biking too.
Paul Phasey
Operations Manager (study & sport)
After securing a degree in Sports Management, Paul entered the school travel market and cut his teeth in study trip operations before taking a senior position in Customer Service. Bringing his vast experience of both itinerary planning, logistics and account management, Paul joined the Absolute Travel team in 2023 with responsibility for our European Study trip operations, our Safety Management System and Account Management too.
Will Pinsent
Educational Tours Manager
A real expert in the field of educational travel, Will is an absolute specialist with more than 25 years’ experience in helping groups to enjoy memorable trips abroad. Despite a passion for European cities, his first love is actually New York - our favourite school study trip destination. He also likes to think of himself as something of a red wine connoisseur.
Rebecca Burton
Sports Tours Manager
Having travelled independently throughout Asia after completing a sports degree at university, Bex joined us back in 2015. Bex manages our SportsSchool festivals in Holland and Spain as well as looking after our programme of bespoke school sports tours, training camps and tournaments too. A keen hockey player herself, Bex brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team.
James Bilson
Sports Tours Manager (football & rugby)
Entrusted with account managing our key football and rugby club tailor-made tours, training camps and tournaments, James already had a background in group travel and sales. His commitment to customer service and passion for sport makes him a perfect fit for a role which also includes looking after the company's marketing, videos, website and social media.
Ed Lunn
Ski and Activity trip Operations
A Business and Finance graduate, Ed is also a BASI level 2 ski instructor too! Having travelled to Austria for more than 20 years, he has an intimate knowledge of the Ski Amade region that he loves, where he has worked for us as a rep and completed a season as an instructor. Ed looks after our ski programme planning, reservations, operations and accountant management for our groups. He's also responsible for reporting, contracting and liaising with suppliers.
Louise Dupree
Account Manager
Having joined us with a proven track record in the travel industry, Louise brings over 17 years’ know-how and expertise from her previous roles in tour operations, sales, customer service and resort management. She also adds further invaluable health and safety experience to our team. A qualified dance and fitness instructor, she has also run her own successful wellness retreats business in recent years. With a passion for sport and travel and entasked with extending our school sports travel portfolio, she has also managed our school ski trips in Andorra.
Luke Worley
Football Tours Account Manager
From a background in football coaching at professional club level (a UEFA B licence qualified coach) and teaching at further education colleges in recent years, Luke brings a network of relationships within the world of football. An experienced tour rep looking after soccer teams from the USA on tour to Europe, he also enjoys the organisational challenge of building the best tour itinerary to make each tour a success. Having completed a winter season as a ski rep too, he admits that the travel business represents the perfect environment for his passion, skills and ambition.
Lynsey Mendonca
Account Manager
Returning to the educational travel sector that she knows and loves after a recent role in Business Development, Lynsey is equally happy in sales, account management and operations. With 19 years’ experience in selling school study trips, she has personally visited most of our featured destinations on inspection and familiarisation trips to add real insight, guidance and expertise. Amongst her favourite school group destinations she highlights both Berlin and California as well as Paris, Iceland and London too!
Barry Vincent
Ski Account Manager
With more than 30 years experience in the leisure industry, Barry has worked ski seasons in resort, overseen ski sales here at home and even managed snow sports venues too! After repping in Austria with countless schools groups over many years, it's easy to see why teachers always ask for him again as soon as their next trip is confirmed! Barry now brings his big personality and expertise to look after our ski accounts and to provide the best customer service in the office and on the slopes.
Tim Hague
Tour Consultant (ski & sport)
A proud Yorkshireman, Tim has worked with us behind the scenes for more than twenty years as our Italian events coordinator, looking after our football and rugby tours to Italy as well as developing our ski destinations in the Dolomites, Alpes and Trentino. He has huge experience in handling and organising both UK and overseas sports tour travel, working with schools, amateurs and professional clubs alike. Tim is fluent in Italian, a keen saxophonist, a budding actor and disillusioned Sheffield Wednesday supporter.
Martyn Harries
Senior Sales Consultant (ski, activity & sport)
Having run his own ski business for a decade, Martyn joined the Absolute team way back in 2007. After a very brief early retirement to recharge his batteries and a foray into the world of professional football as a Travel Manager, Martyn is now back on board once more! He now acts as a Sales Consultant for our ski, activity and football groups, sharing his huge experience and passion for the trips that we organise both in the office and in resort.
Emily Gowing
Dance Consultant, Instructor & Social Media
Having worked with the dance groups at our SportsSchool festivals in both Holland and Spain, Emily is a qualified DDE modern dance teacher which she gained alongside her First-Class Honours degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre from Bird College in London. With teaching experience already at Stagecoach, Babyballet and Pure Rhythm, she will be expanding our performing arts group programme for London, Paris & New York trips and assisting with our social media accounts as well.
Katie Gowing
Musical Theatre and Dance Instructor
Katie is presently training at the famous Laine Theatre Arts School whilst already embracing the incredible opportunities of both the performing arts and travel sectors. It's no surpirse perhaps, that New York is her favourite destination where she has enjoyed checking out one of our 'Chicago' specialist school workshops in the city and seeing Moulin Rouge on Broadway! When she's not singing or dancing, you'll find her busy building our performing arts database, assisting with general office administration or instructing at one of our school festivals in Holland.
Sue Rudd
Travel Agency General Manager
With more than 30 years in travel, Sue knows more about travel than anyone else we know. As an experienced travel agency manager she is responsible for looking after both our local and national customers, offering outstanding advice and customer service… which is why so many of her clients come from referrals and recommendations.