Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Short-Term Projects
References
Timeline
Generic

James Alexander

ASHBOURNE,Derbyshire

Summary

Passionate and knowledgeable travel professional with nearly 30 years of experience in the retail travel and wholesale/tour operator environments.

Experienced product development and contracts manager with a proven track record in sales and marketing management.

Demonstrated leadership as a skilled business and project leader, enthusiastic product trainer, innovator and cultivator of strong interpersonal relationships.

Committed to leveraging knowledge and expertise to achieve business goals and enhance organisational growth.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Independent Luxury Safari Travel Consultant

Self Employed
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
06.2020 - Current
  • Design and manage bespoke travel experiences for HNW clients, specialising in African safaris and exclusive island retreats.
  • Provide in-depth knowledge, local destination advice, and first-class service from initial consultation to post-trip follow-up, ensuring seamless, personalised itineraries tailored to each client's preferences.
  • Manage all aspects of travel, including private charters, luxury accommodation, exclusive excursions, fine dining, and personalised round-the-clock concierge services.
  • Continue to grow and maintain trusted relationships with specialist DMC's, hotels, and lodges in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.
  • Foster loyalty, repeat business, and referrals by utilising CRM and itinerary management tools to track preferences, anniversaries, and recurring client travel needs.
  • Enjoy 100% client retention over this period, primarily through referrals and exceptional service.

Project Leader

WeBenefit Travel (A division of WeBenefit Pty Ltd)
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.2018 - 02.2020
  • Led the creation and launch of a new travel business within a mission-driven social benefit company.
  • Designed to provide passive income and funding to NGO's, schools, churches, etc, by aggregating travel purchases in their communities to generate financial rewards and discounts.
  • Developed the vision and strategy to offer purpose-driven travel choices, support local communities and sustainable fundraising initiatives.
  • Collaborated with a cross-functional team, including product, marketing, webdev, and partnerships, to design and launch travel offerings that generate measurable social benefit.
  • Built partnerships with local NGO's, community organisations, and ethical travel providers to create high-yield travel products.
  • Developed and piloted a customised corporate travel solution with an intelligent automation specialist to optimise their travel spend and practices, and introduce automated solutions over time.
  • Developed and nurtured contracts with domestic and foreign tour operators, airlines, Hotels.com, car hire brokers, and specialist accommodation providers.
  • Achieved the first-year target of 12% commission yields for funding recipients within 6 months.

Founder & Director

IslandsOnly.com
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.2003 - 12.2018
  • Founded and launched IslandOnly.com in 2003, a successful first-of-its-kind online platform promoting and creating luxury island holidays to a selection of African, Indian Ocean and S.E. Asian destinations.
  • Demonstrated strong entrepreneurial skills by identifying, developing and executing an online strategy to take early advantage of the pivot to digital travel solutions.
  • Contracted with preferred partners (tour operators, hotels and airlines, etc), achieving preferred partner status with all selected suppliers, thereby earning preferential rates and improved yield.
  • Out-of-the-box product design & development to ensure continued innovation and uniqueness of the programme.
  • Managed and mentored a reservation team consisting of office and home workers.
  • Oversaw ongoing web design, development, optimisation and maintenance. This included writing and/or sourcing 90% of the content on the site.
  • Led all aspects of the business, including operations, marketing, finance, and customer service, ensuring a seamless and efficient workflow.


Project & Facilities Manager

Lagos Prep School & Lamb Court Luxury Apartments
Lagos, Nigeria
05.2014 - 07.2016
  • My family and I lived in Lagos, Nigeria, for two years while my wife was on assignment with a multinational company in the country.
  • I continued to support my regular loyal IslandsOnly clients during this time, focusing on high-value, high-yield business where possible.
  • Project Manager: Volunteered to manage the construction of an open-air reading centre at my children's school, Lagos Prep.
  • The project entailed the building of several pavilions, gardens, a games area and pathways.
  • Responsibilities included developing and managing the project plan, managing the project budget, overseeing numerous contractors, and materials sourcing, among others.
  • Property Manager: Appointed residents' representative on the property management team for a luxury apartment complex, Lamb Court.
  • Responsible for ensuring the safety, security and comfort of all residents.
  • Liaised with the site manager and maintenance team/s to ensure all facilities, including fire safety, water purification, wastewater plant, generators, and security, were routinely checked and maintained as required.

Product Development & Supplier Integration Manager

Veer.com (South African Airways / McKinsey & Co.)
Johannesburg, South Africa
08.2001 - 09.2002
  • Curated a new African and Indian Ocean Islands product portfolio for one of the first OTC's in South Africa.
  • Additionally, responsible for the integration of numerous supplier inventory management and booking technologies with the Veer.com proprietary travel management system.
  • Established new supplier relationships to diversify the product portfolio, improve customers' travel selection and improve redundancy.
  • Minimised risk by implementing robust supplier contracts and agreements.
  • Strengthened supplier partnerships for better price negotiations and discounts.

Marketing & Sales Manager

Rennies Travel (Travel Services & ‘Options' Tours)
Johannesburg, South Africa
06.1999 - 02.2001

Product & Ski Programme Manager

Thompsons Holidays
Johannesburg, South Africa
11.1995 - 05.1999

Education

Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management - Business

Institute of Marketing Management (IMM)
Johannesburg, South Africa
01.1989 - 06.1993

Joint Matriculation Board (A-Levels equivalent) -

St Andrew College
Grahamstown, South Africa
01.1982 - 12.1986

South African Navy
Cape Town, South Africa
02.1987 - 12.1988

Skills

  • Product development and contract management
  • Project leadership
  • Sales and marketing expertise
  • Product, destination and sales training
  • Innovation and creativity
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Group Tour manager/leader

Short-Term Projects

Accomplished Tour Leader/Manager:

  • Led numerous travel trade & media groups on international FAM trips and educationals.
  • Groups Tour Manager to Rugby World Cup 2023, 2015, 2007 & 2003 in France (x2), England & Australia.
  • Tour Manager for Gulliver's Sports Travel during the Rugby World Cup 2023 and Six Nations 2025 & 2024.
  • Ski Resorts Manager - Europe (1997/98 & 1998/99 seasons) for Thompsons Holidays.
  • Maldives Resorts Manager (1995) for Logans Tours & ATO.
  • Accompanied school groups on day trips to various locations in the UK.


Product & Marketing Consulting:

  • To Sofitel on the development, marketing and sales of their properties in the Comoros (2002)
  • Managed travel arrangements and media trade exchanges for various SA Sports Illustrated Swimwear shoots.
  • Managed travel arrangements for Target Swimwear shoot in Bali.
  • Collaborated with an Italian/UK ski company to improve direct online sales from the South African market.

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Independent Luxury Safari Travel Consultant

Self Employed
06.2020 - Current

Project Leader

WeBenefit Travel (A division of WeBenefit Pty Ltd)
01.2018 - 02.2020

Project & Facilities Manager

Lagos Prep School & Lamb Court Luxury Apartments
05.2014 - 07.2016

Founder & Director

IslandsOnly.com
01.2003 - 12.2018

Product Development & Supplier Integration Manager

Veer.com (South African Airways / McKinsey & Co.)
08.2001 - 09.2002

Marketing & Sales Manager

Rennies Travel (Travel Services & ‘Options' Tours)
06.1999 - 02.2001

Product & Ski Programme Manager

Thompsons Holidays
11.1995 - 05.1999

Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management - Business

Institute of Marketing Management (IMM)
01.1989 - 06.1993

South African Navy
02.1987 - 12.1988

Joint Matriculation Board (A-Levels equivalent) -

St Andrew College
01.1982 - 12.1986

Similar Profiles

Create profile
James Alexander