Tom Allen
In a long and distinguished career, Tom has developed a strong combination of skills in a variety of disciplines. He is an accomplished strategist and leader who has been instrumental in leading significant growth and development in a variety of companies. He has particular strengths in strategic planning; marketing and sales; start ups; organisational change; and building and leading high performance teams.
Tom has a thorough knowledge of the Travel and Leisure Industry, and a unique expertise in many diverse holiday markets and corporate trading circumstances, with experience in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Tom also has a strong network of contacts throughout the industry.
After qualifying in his native Belfast as a chartered accountant, he spent some years in London and Kenya before moving into the Leisure Industry by joining EMI Hotels and Restaurants. After then joining Thomson Holidays as chief management accountant, he moved to Sunmed Holidays as director/general manager, which he left to set up his own specialist tour operator - Next Island Holidays – subsequently sold to a Travel PLC.
Following this, he had long experience with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as Vice President for Marketing and Sales, based in London, looking after Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He originally joined Disney to open and run the UK office for Disneyland Paris, and subsequently was responsible for opening and running the European offices for the USA Theme Parks and Hotels as well as the Disney Cruise Line, and launching the Walt Disney Travel Company in the UK.
After Disney he started the on-line Travel Company, Theme Park Holidays. During this time he also worked with the leading attraction ticket specialist, Keith Prowse, on a number of projects, including setting up a London short break programme. Following the sale of Theme Park Holidays, he joined Cadogan Holidays as Managing Director for three years.
Tom is the proud recipient of the Northern Ireland Travel Personality of the Year; and is a Fellow of the Institute of Travel and Tourism. He supports London Irish and Liverpool, although he and his sons often watch Fulham and Brentford. He is still recovering from the celebrations following Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam achievement.
Professor David Carson
David Carson is President of the Academy of Marketing UK, the foremost representative body of marketing academics in the UK and Ireland. He is also Honorary President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Ireland and a Fellow of the (CIM). David has been a Visiting Professor at numerous universities abroad such as universities in Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia; University of Auckland, New Zealand; and University of Bahrain.
He has wide experience in middle and senior management training in service industries including organisations such as Walt Disney World and Cadogan Holidays. He has worked with hundreds of SMEs in Ireland and elsewhere and has published widely on SME and Entrepreneurial Marketing. He was for many years, until recently, Editor of the European Journal of Marketing. He has recently been part of the group of experts appointed by Tourism Ireland to undertake their Brand review, and has worked on such projects as the restoration of the Giant's Causeway, and the proposed International Multi-Sports Stadium in Northern Ireland.
David supports Crusaders and West Ham, and is co-owner of a bar in Majorca with old friends Joe Dyer and Robert White. He is also an ardent sailor, which includes making an annual journey to the Scottish islands to ensure the quality of local malt whisky is not deteriorating.