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SPAA President
Mike became SPAA President in 2022. He has served on Council since 2017. Mike is general manager, Europe at Global Marine Travel (GMT). He began his career with Denholm’s in the 1990s and has specialised in the marine/offshore market for more than 25 years. Mike also has voluntary experience as a past director of the Scottish Shipping Benevolent Association.
SPAA Vice President
Jacqueline is the President of Barrhead Travel, one of the UK’s largest travel agencies. With over two decades of experience within the travel industry, Jacqueline has been pivotal in shaping Barrhead Travel into a UK-wide success story.
With a personal passion for travel, adventure and cruise, Jacqueline is a champion for the High Street Travel Agency model and firmly believes there is no better way to book a holiday than with the first-hand expertise of a travel agent.
Jacqueline started her career in travel at age 16, progressing though various areas of the business, gaining expertise in sales, marketing, business development, product curation and commercial development. In 2003, she led the opening and operation of Barrhead Travel’s Glasgow superstore, which is the largest travel agency store in Europe.
In 2021 Jacqueline was nominated for both 'Businesswoman of the Year' and 'Inspirational Woman of the Year', alongside Scotland's most esteemed business leaders and entrepreneurs at the Businesswomen Awards in Scotland.
Jacqueline has served on Council since 2019.
SPAA Immediate Past President
Joanne is a long-term SPAA member. Joanne operates three Love To Travel independent travel agencies in Coatbridge, Motherwell, and Bellshill, specialising in leisure travel. Joanne started in the travel industry in 1987, working mainly for multiples such as Thomas Cook, The Co-op Travel and Going Places as a regional manager before founding Love To Travel in 2014. Joanne opened her second store in her hometown of Motherwell in the same shop where she first started her career 27 years before for Lunn Poly.
Joanne is also a non-executive board director for the Advantage Travel Partnership. She has been a Council member of the SPAA since 2006 and has also undertaken the role of SPAA Social Convener, responsible for the Scottish Travel Awards, the Summer Ball and networking lunches.
Joanne is also a non executive board director for the Advantage Travel Partnership. She has been a council member of the SPAA for over 18 years and has also undertaken the role of SPAA social convener responsible for the Scottish Travel Awards, the Summer Ball and networking lunches.
SPAA Secretary
Janice Hogarth, a past president – and the second female president - of the SPAA, manages the day to day operations of the organisation which she has been a part of for more than 25 years having previously worked as a business development manager for Alba Travel in Inverness.
SPAA Treasurer
Drew is an Honorary Member of SPAA. He retired from the industry in 2017 following 50 years service in Retail Leisure, Business Travel, Group & Conference organising, Tour Operating and travel related Sales Representation. Drew is delighted to return in 2022 to take care of the Association's finances.
Alan jointly owns and operates Glen Travel (with his two brothers David & Douglas). Established in 1973 Glen Travel is a fully Independent, multi award-winning company with many different facets to the business including retail & wholesale operations, whilst also offering self-employed Home Worker and Franchise opportunities. Alan has been in the travel business since 1989 and is a Past President of SPAA, he first joined SPAA Council in 2010.
Gayle Gordon is the SPAA Social Convener, responsible for our Annual Travel Awards and Summer Ball, and has been a Council member since 2012. Starting her journey with the SPAA being responsible for the youth in the industry. Gayle has progressed on Council and has held roles including Quiz Convener and Social Media Convener. Gayle has worked with Clyde Travel Management through various roles since 1998, her career as a trainee Business Travel Consultant, then switching to Leisure Travel and spent many years selling wonderful holidays to her customers. Gayle has a passion for Marine and Corporate Travel so was delighted when Clyde Travel gave her the opportunity to become Customer Relations Manager, a role which she loves!
Paul Cronje is Director of Clyde Travel Management, specialising in marine, energy and corporate travel and head quartered in Glasgow. Having joined the travel industry in 2001 as a leisure travel consultant, Paul moved into the corporate travel environment seven years later and today has over 20 years’ experience across the wider industry. He joined the SPAA Council in 2019.
Kennedy has been a member of SPAA Council since 2012 and has held the role of Cruise Convener since 2014. Kennedy is the general manager of Scotia Travel, based in Glasgow City Centre and has been with Scotia since 1985, albeit with a 2-year stint as Superbreaks’ “Man in Scotland” in the early 90’s. Scotia Travel, or Scotia Tours as originally known, have been around since 1938, and now focus on cruise, long haul and tailor-made travel.
Moira is a Homeworker for Miles Morgan Travel based in St Andrews and is the only Scottish Employee for the Company. Moira has been in the travel industry since 1981 starting as soon as she left school and spent 34 years working for Thomas Cook in Dundee. She joined the SPAA Council in 2020. After spending all her working life in travel, Moira is still as passionate about travel as she was when she started.
Irene’s career in travel started with Portman Travel in 1975. 36 years later, after 10 years in business travel and 26 in retail, specialising in luxury leisure travel and group and incentive markets for corporate clients, she decided it was time to move on. She headed to the East to Connoisseur Travel for 7 years and then to Kenneth Macleod Travel for 3 years. Irene now works with her long-standing client base from home. Travel is in her blood. Being involved with the SPAA has been a huge part of Irene’s journey. Irene has served on Council since 1992 most recently as Charity Convener.
Jimmy is the owner of award-winning Jimmy Martin Travel, an Independent Travel Agency based in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Having been a President of the SPAA twice and a member of the council since 2004, Jimmy has always worked in the leisure sector of the industry, having learnt his apprenticeship at the famous late booking agency, Frutin Travel in Leith, his hometown, from where he worked as a brochure boy and ended up Managing Director. In 2021 Jimmy took over Frutin Travel and incorporated it into his organisation.
Julian owns Kenneth Macleod Travel, an Independent Travel Agent based in Giffnock, Glasgow. He began his working life with the Clydesdale Bank in Bath Street, Glasgow before realising his aviation interests were better served in travel. In 1979 he started with P&O Travel in Bothwell Street, Glasgow before moving along the road to Kenneth Macleod Travel in 1983 where he was part of a MBO in 1993. Julian joined SPAA Council in 2020.
John is owner of Stelar Travel in Stenhousemuir and joint owner of Ian Dickson Travel in Edinburgh. John started his long journey in the industry in 1983 as a YTS at A. T. Mays before going on to Sibbald Travel and then Ian Dickson Travel. Although most of his time has been concentrated in the Leisure Travel area John has dipped his toe into most other areas of travel on occasion. He started Stelar Travel in 2017 in Stenhousemuir and re-joined Ian Dickson Travel as part owner and Managing Director in 2021. John has been on the SPAA Council since December 2020.
Aman Kohli has been in the travel industry for over 40 years and has served on SPAA Council since 2007. His company, Kohli Travel, has always specialised in VFR (Visit Friends and Relatives) flights to The Asian subcontinent and the Far East. After reviving the Quiz in 2007. Aman then became the Dinner Convener with other roles including serving on Air Committee and the APJC (The Air Passenger Joint Council).
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