Tom Allen
In a long and distinguished career, Tom is an accomplished strategist and leader who has been instrumental in leading significant growth and development in a variety of companies.
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.
Initially a chartered accountant who didn’t like spending all day with figures, Tom has since become a leading travel industry marketeer as well as having extensive experience in general management.
Tom moved into the Leisure Industry by joining EMI Hotels and Restaurants; Thomson Holidays as chief management accountant; Sunmed Holidays as director/general manager; Founder/MD Next Island Holidays.
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 - Founder/MD Theme Park Holidays; Keith Prowse, London short break programme; Cadogan Holidays MD; Founder/MD Shorex Travel.
Professor Emeritus David Carson
David Carson is past 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).
Based at the University of Ulster, 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.
The most commercially minded academic around, he has wide experience in middle and senior management training in many leisure service industries including organisations such as Walt Disney World, Stenna Lines and Cadogan Holidays.
David 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 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.