Who we are?

Hotelshopuk initially specialised in booking 2-5 star accommodation and short breaks throughout the UK

hotelshopUK is a privately owned group of companies dating back to 1999 offering a range of solutions within the UK hospitality sector.

In 2021 the Directors successfully completed a management buyout and co-own the group of companies collectively. We are proud to be based in Droitwich Spa and have 3 sites employing over 100 people from the local area.

HotelshopUK Ltd also operates under the following business trading names:

Fast becoming the UK’s no 1 UK short break operator.

Experts in accommodation sourcing for emergency situation’s.

White label contact centre solutions dedicated for the hospitality industry.

Take control of your own destiny by partnering with Cloud-works through intelligent travel-focused solutions.

Rapid Relocate Ltd

Specialist in Alternative Accommodation claims handling.

Our mission is simple:

Mission:

Our aim is to delight with the highest quality, value and service that customers recommend positively, suppliers share fondly and employees are proud to be part of.

We are committed to finding or creating the best deals for our leisure customers, presenting opportunities and adding value to our Central Reservations Office (CRO) customers and delivering a caring, efficient and fast response to our emergency relocation customers.

Vision:

To be known as the BEST in what we do. Always delighting our customers, suppliers, employees with opportunities and value, adopting a sustainable and profitable approach.

Values:

Our company values are modest and clear – they underpin our ethos, performance and guide our corporate and staff behaviours:

Dedicated – to make sustainable choices & continuous improvement.
Enthusiastic – have willingness & passion for everything we do.
Likeable – be approachable, delightful, friendly & fun.
Inclusive – show compassion, fairness & respect to all.
Generous – give back & go the extra mile.
Honourable – work with integrity, honesty & accountability.
Teamwork – collaborate & communicate with others considerately.

Our Owners and Leadership Team:

Diana Evans Group Managing Director

Diana Evans – diana.evans@hotelshopuk.com

Diana joined Hotelshop UK as a customer services agent whilst studying for a Business Management degree in June of 2000 when the company was only 6 months old. After graduating from University she became Hotelshop UKs first Marketing Manager. Over the years Diana has worked in pretty much all departments and business units – rising through the managerial levels over the years. In 2017 she completed her level 7 PG dip in Strategic Marketing Management through distance learning and in 2018 she took over as Managing Director when Viv, the original founder decided to take a step back from the day to day running of the company. Diana now oversees HotelshopUK as Group Managing Director and co-owns the business alongside her fellow Directors Rob and Craig. Diana has lived in Droitwich since a child and now resides locally with her two young daughters.

Craig Newcombe Group Finance Director

Craig Newcombe – craig.newcombe@hotelshopuk.com

Craig joined Hotelshop UK in October 2016 as Finance Director and is a Chartered and Certified Accountant, having qualified in 2007, more recently as the company has grown Craig has undertaken the role of Group Finance Director and oversees the Finance, HR and IT functions of Hotelshop. Previously Craig worked for a support services company, predominantly in the leisure industry in a variety of roles, more latterly as Finance Director of a Golf Management Company and also as Finance Director of a Horticultural Company, he has also undertaken project management roles for various system installations. Craig Resides in Worcestershire with his wife and three young children and lists his interests as football and Star Wars!

Rob Veale Group Operations Director

Rob Veale – rob.veale@hotelshopuk.com

Rob began his time in the company on the contact centre floor, in 2008, and has risen up through the ranks to the present day where he is our Group Operations Director and Co-Owner. He managed a team to implement our Quality Management system and maintain our ISO 9001:2015 accreditation and also heads up our internal CARE Team which focuses on Staff Well-being and Mental Health in the workplace. Rob is also a recognised Travel figure having been elected in 2013 as one of the TTG under 30 travel leaders and also a Young Travel Manager of the Year Finalist in 2015. Having two young daughters his hands are quite full outside of work but he tries to fit in the odd game of Tennis where possible.

The Senior Management Team:

Claire Elnor HR & Quality Manager

Claire Elnor – claire.elnor@hotelshopuk.com

Claire has been with the company since 2013, although had worked for HotelshopUK a couple of years previously, leaving to have children. She returned as Customer Service Manager and was part of the Quality Management implementation team, resulting in her appointment as Quality Manager. In 2017 an opportunity arose within the HR department, and with the company’s support she took on the role whilst studying for her CIPD Level Three and subsequently Level Five. She now oversees the HR responsibilities for the whole company. Her family has been by completed by the addition of two black Labradors meaning she likes to get out and about on long country walks.

Paula Martin Director of Ecommerce

Paula Martin – paula.martin@hotelshopuk.com

Originally from London, Paula moved to Worcester and joined HotelshopUK in 2003 as Marketing Executive. Having previously worked for a travel agent and tour operator, she had gained experience within the travel industry and with all aspects of marketing. Working within the Great Little Breaks team, since it’s launch in 2011, she was promoted to Marketing Director and then Director of eCommerce; overseeing both the marketing activity, booking systems and website technology. She has recently been promoted to Head of Great Little Breaks. Outside of work, she has a passion for sport (watching not doing!) especially football and Formula 1 and has two dachshunds, who do come in to the office on the odd occasion to cause havoc with the team!

Nick Payton Head of Operations

Nick Payton – nick.payton@hotelshopuk.com

Nick began his career in restaurant management before deciding to take a career break in the form of a 15-month trip around South East Asia. This included a stint teaching English in Bangkok and began a lifelong love of Asian food! On return from travelling Nick put his Asian expertise to good use and spent the next few years in the travel industry creating and organising itineraries around the region. Staying in travel, Nick put his management experience to good use and has been involved in managing sales and operations teams in a variety of roles. This eventually led Nick to HotelshopUK where he currently oversees three business units. Outside of work, Nick’s time is divided between his family and his other passions: motorcycling, squash and, weather permitting, paddle boarding on the River Avon.

Emma Tighe Finance Manager

Emma Tighe – Emma.Tighe@hotelshopuk.com

Emma joined the company as Finance Manager in 2018 having previously worked for 5 years within the pharmaceutical sector for Bayer PLC and 14 years for a Droitwich based company who deliver EPOS solutions to the retail sector. Emma has progressed since she started and is now Group Financial Controller supporting the company by heading up the finance team. In 2021 Emma was approached to head up the company’s Green Team which she still heads up today and is very proud of.

Away from the office Emma likes spending time with her husband and daughter and two rescue Staffie dogs, which means lots of long walks in the countryside. She is passionate about the environment and has been vegan for 10 years. Tennis is another great passion of hers having played since the age of 4 progressing to playing for Worcestershire County.

Matt Jancey Group Systems & Security Manager

Matt Jancey – Matt.Jancey@hotelshopuk.com

Matt joined the company in 2008 as a reservation agent in the customer service team, before quickly progressing into a team leader role. In 2011 Matt moved into the IT department, starting out as IT Support, and today is the company’s Systems and Security Manager.

Matt now leads the company’s internal IT team in supporting and developing business systems and infrastructure. He also heads up the company’s information security and business continuity functions, as well as designing and producing Management Information reports for many of our clients.

Away from the office, Matt has a keen interest in genealogy and on weekends can often be found out exploring the countryside.

Catherine Garrett Head of Sales