Corporate News and Information

Shearings Holidays, the UK’s 9th largest hotelier has acquired three more hotels; St George Hotel in Harrogate, the George Hotel in Chollerford near Hexham, Northumberland and the Eden Arms Hotel in Rushyford near Durham. The move follows extensive market research and customer segmentation.

More traditionally famous for its leading position in the coach holiday sector, the move to expand the hotel estate reflects an investment plan of almost £25 million in Shearings’ hotel business including the rationalisation of its hotels into a three-tiered structure: Coast & Country, Classic Collection and Value Collection.

According to Denis Wormwell, Chief Executive, the move reflects changing market demand:

“Increasingly our hotels are attracting more independent travellers who are looking for quality and value for money.” he commented. “In an economic climate where the strength of the Euro puts people off travelling abroad it makes sound commercial sense to commit our resources to expand our hotel portfolio.”

The St George Hotel and the George Hotel have been categorised as part of the premium Coast & Country range offering finer hotels at fairer prices. The Eden Arms hotel has been added to the Classic Collection offering the quality and value you’d expect from the Shearings brand. The three new hotels are all situated in areas of outstanding beauty and are in superb locations to visit the surrounding area and attractions. The new hotels can be booked by contacting the hotels directly, visiting www.shearings.com or by calling into your local Travel Agent.

For further information or to interview Denis Wormwell call Kate Bostock, Shearings Communications Manager on 01942 823591.

Shearings staff in Exhall enjoy birthday celebrations, 20 years after the purpose built coach interchange was opened.

The birthday celebrations were in full swing earlier this month at Shearings’ Exhall coach interchange as staff celebrated twenty years of sending customers on holiday from the purpose built depot.

The interchange was opened back in 1988 by R D Walkden, Mayor of Bedworth and Nuneaton, and has been managed by Carol Carpenter for the past nineteen years.

“I was asked to run the interchange back in 1989 which I agreed to do, for a three month trial only - suddenly we are celebrating twenty great years. There’s a fantastic atmosphere in the interchange as the staff here really go out of their way to make sure that the customer experience is the best it can be. This is where their holiday begins,” comments Carol.

Shearings Holidays has been making holiday dreams come true for over 100 years during which time the company has evolved from being the UK’s most famous coach company to become one of the UK’s leading holiday companies.

For further information call Kate Bostock, Shearings Communications Manager on 01942 823591.

Shearings has unveiled a new management structure for their recently created Commercial Department and promotes four senior staff members

Alan MacLean, newly appointed Shearings’ Commercial Director has brought about change at Shearings’ Head Office, merging the sales & marketing and product functions to create a Commercial Department. This re-structure sees the promotion of four senior staff members to head up the four key areas within the department.

Fiona Greenhalgh, former Senior Sales & Marketing Manager has been promoted to Head of Sales & Marketing and is responsible for the sales and marketing across the Shearings brand including Sales Support and New Business Development. “The new role will be challenging but I’m looking forward to setting up and developing the new teams within the Sales & Marketing division. It’s a really exciting time for the company and I want to ensure we exceed all expectations, generating more sales and new business” said Fiona.

Former Product Manager, UK & Ireland, Caroline Brown fills the new role of Head of Product heading up Yield & Creation team plus a team of six Regional Product Managers. Commenting Caroline said “It’s a real privilege to be part of a new, energetic and forward thinking team, developing our product portfolio to make sure we remain market leaders.”

Other promotions include Jesper Hochheim who has now become Head of Purchasing and Chris Howarth who has been appointed E-Commerce Manager with a key role of developing Shearings’ web presence.

Comments Alan MacLean, Commercial Director Shearings: “The sales & marketing and product functions already worked very closely together so it made perfect business sense to merge the two teams into one. We will benefit from the expertise and knowledge the heads of department will bring to this newly formed team and it means we’re all working towards common goals and objectives. The re-structure has injected a new burst of energy into the company.”

For further information call Kate Bostock, Shearings Communications Manager on 01942 823591.

Shearings Holidays are delighted to announce that we were crowned the winners of the "Favourite Coach Operator 2008" award at the Elite Travel Awards 2008.

Held at Warwick Castle, Lindsey Garvey-Jones, Regional Sales Manager was there to collect the award, "We've all played a part in achieving this award and it's something to celebrate...it makes you feel good when hard work is rewarded and here's to next year!"

For further information call Kate Bostock, Shearings Communications Manager on 01942 823591.