Newcastle business woman wins national travel industry accolade

Jeanne Lally, co-owner of Travel Bureau, Gosforth, has been honoured with an Outstanding Contribution to the Travel Industry award at the prestigious Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards.

The annual awards, held recently at London’s Park Plaza Westminster, are the biggest celebration of the UK’s travel industry and recognise the best agents and agencies across the country, be it on the high street, in a call centre or based at home. They also award individual excellence in travel marketing, social media and websites.

Jeanne Lally said:

“To receive such a prestigious award from industry peers is an honour. I’ve been very lucky to work alongside some of the best people in this industry who have mentored me and given me the opportunity to develop a truly rewarding career in travel.”

Commenting on the award Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley said: “Jeanne has devoted 35 years to the travel industry, holding senior tour operating roles before turning to agency sales and then taking on her own agency. She is well-respected by staff and industry peers alike, and she also advises the industry through a consultancy business, in addition to serving as a non-executive director of travel agent consortium Advantage. She is passionate and dedicated to her business, to Advantage and to the industry in general and is an inspiration, and great fun to be around. Jeanne was a thoroughly-deserving recipient of our Outstanding Achievement Award.”

Jeanne joined the regional Newcastle office of Thomson Holidays in 1981 as a temporary reservations advisor before progressing to Thomson’s agency sales manager for the North East & Cumbria. She first joined Travel Bureau Gosforth in 1993, working for then owners John Scott Jr. and Jeff Bell as business development manager, before heading to London in 1996 to take up various positions in purchasing and sales working from Thomson’s head office in Camden, where she worked for over 10 years.

Jeanne returned to the North East in 2007 where she set up her own consultancy service, working with tourist boards, hotel groups and airlines. She returned to Travel Bureau in 2008 when the original owners offered the opportunity of a management buyout with two existing colleagues.  Jeanne and Anne Bromley are now co-owners of the business which provides tailor-made travel itineraries for both leisure and corporate clients and continues to innovate and grow into new markets.

In May this year Travel Bureau launched an inbound travel business Travel Bureau Destinations offering luxury British holidays and VIP business experiences. Whether it’s an in-depth visit to one city, a region or the ultimate grand tour of Britain, Travel Bureau Destinations can craft unique experiences tailored specifically to an individual client, small private group or larger business incentive programme.

“It’s great to be part of a business that has such a strong local heritage and one that continues to innovate in the 21st century with Travel Bureau Destinations.  We look forward to growing the Travel Bureau business further over the coming years”, added Jeanne.

Picture Caption – Jeanne Lally (centre) picking up her Outstanding Contribution to the Travel Industry award with (left to right) Stuart Parish, managing director Travel Weekly, Laurence Hicks, Wendy Wu Tours, Renford Sargent, Premier Travel, Roddie MacPhee, Barrhead Travel and Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief Travel Weekly