Who are the product team?

Our product department are responsible for the research and development of new products and destinations; prospecting new itineraries; the planning of the brochures; preparing the costings for all brochures and liaising with ground handlers, hotels and airlines. This process starts in excess of 18 months prior to each annual brochure coming out, as all the logistics of all of our trips has to be checked and agreed that it creates the Inspirational Journey that our clients would expect.

Kirsty Bennetts

Product Manager, India and Asia
 
 
Kirsty joined Bales 5 years ago in the tailor made department and is now Product Manager for Asia and is responsible for the Indian Subcontinent and China & the Far East brochures.

A two-month long trip to Australia with stopovers in Bangkok and Singapore initially sparked Kirsty’s passion for travel and after completing a degree in Travel & Tourism in Cardiff she returned to the Far East travelling overland through Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. This was followed by a year travelling and working in Australia before returning to the UK to settle down into a real job. Eleven years at an upmarket, and very accommodating, tour operator gave the opportunity for plenty of travelling including several 2 or 3 month long sabbaticals to places like India, Nepal and Latin America.

Although widely travelled, having visited 51 countries, she is passionate about all things Asia. Favourite spots include the beautiful World Heritage listed town of Luang Prabang in Laos, Myanmar’s unspoilt beaches, Angkor Wat and the remote Buddhist monasteries of central China and she is equally happy whether lazing on a beach in the Maldives or trekking in the Himalayas in Nepal. However, India is Kirsty’s first love and she has so far notched up 15 trips there travelling extensively throughout the country from Ladakh in the far north to Kanyakumari on the country’s most southerly tip.

When not working, as well as travelling she enjoys photography, cookery (particularly all foods Indian and Oriental) and yoga – although despite spending 5 weeks on a yoga ashram in southern India has still not mastered the art of standing on her head!

Clare Moore  
 

Head of Product Administration (including Canada Product)

Clare first worked for Bales as part of her Tourism Degree course, spending a year as work experience in the Operations Department. After graduating she returned for what was planned as a temporary period and has been with the company for 13 more years!

During this time Clare has worked extensively on all regions covered by the Bales products and has also escorted tours to Africa and the Middle East. On a luxury ‘Topmarket tour’ of Jordan she surprised her clients by appearing on horseback alongside the train they were travelling on - mounting the horse from a moving train was no mean fea!

She has travelled to many exotic and wonderful countries but her favourite destinations include Japan for its modernism, India for its colourful culture and Thailand for its luxury hotels!

Clare is now Product Manager for Canada and also works closely with the Operations team as a Product Support Manager making sure that all the behind the scene arrangements are in place for a holiday of her lifetime. Known as ‘Eagle eyes’ to her colleagues she has finely tuned her proof reading skills and looks forward to trawling through the brochure proofs each year!

Outside of work Clare enjoys socialising with her friends over a glass of wine, interior design, going to West End shows, organising and cleaning her home- a skill that has come in useful when re-organising the Bales offices!

Sally Inskip  
 

Head of Marketing Production (including Australia and New Zealand Product)

After studying Travel and Tourism Sally first joined Bales in 1988 and worked in the Groups department for 6 years during which time she discovered her passion for traveling with overseas visits to Egypt, India, Kenya, and South Africa. She also experienced her first visit to Asia with escorting tours to China and Thailand.

Sally then decided to venture into the bright lights of London and worked for another upmarket tour operator in various roles. During this period she continued her travels and increased her knowledge of the Orient with visits to Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia and also experienced her first trip to Australia and is now totally hooked!

After 10 years in London it was time to move back to the Surrey countryside and Sally returned to Bales in 2004 as a temp in the Planning department. Initially she assisted with brochure production and went on to become the Image Research Manager responsible for the annual selection of the images for the brochures and for Bales World. In addition to this role Sally is now the Product Manager for the brand new Australia and New Zealand brochure launched in January 2008. Since first traveling to Australia she has been back on numerous occasions and has now also experienced the delights of beautiful New Zealand.

Outside of work Sally is in the process of renovating her house but in any spare time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, yoga, cycling and of course lots of retail therapy!!

Phil Ellis 
 

Product Manager, Africa, Egypt and the Middle East

My love affair with travel started as a student. Taking advantage of our extended summer holidays, I travelled around America and Europe. In 2002 I joined Bales on a placement year from university, aiding both my business degree and travel knowledge. After graduating in 2004 I instantly rejoined Bales and I’ve now travelled around areas of Asia, South America and Africa. I’m currently excited about my forthcoming journey around India, a country which I have wanted to explore for years.