We are delighted to publish that one of our clients, the travel themed social network talkholiday, is growing exponentially whilst adding some new and influential personalities to the team.
talkholiday was conceived and developed by Scottish entrepreneur Chris Newlands, from Erskine, after his own travel experiences made him realise there were gaps in the market regarding various aspects of holidaymaking.
The site acts as a platform where like-minded people with the same interests, going to the same destination or an event at the same time, can interact. Users can also plan, prepare and purchase every aspect of their leisure or business trip on the site.
Amanda Wills CBE joins talkholiday in a non-exec role. The former managing director of Virgin Holidays has been described by Richard Branson as “a legend within the travel industry” and will drive awareness of the brand from her London base.
“It is hugely exciting,” said Amanda of her new role.
“When Chris asked me to join him it was an absolute no brainer. I left Virgin Holidays with the motivation to offer my expertise to young enterprising businesses with bundles of ambition and potential. I see those exact attributes in talkholiday as a brand and in the team that Chris is building,” she added.
Steven Mail also joins the board as a non-exec Director. Mail is another Scot who launched the largest single manager global macro hedge fund in Europe when he was an investment banker. Now based in Florida he is well connected to leading US social and digital media companies as well as like-minded entrepreneurs.
The company has recently completed a second round of funding which takes the total funds raised to date to around £800,000 from private investors. The funds will be used to grow the team in Glasgow by taking on additional website developers as well as adding a digital consultant and content editor to the team.
It has also entered into agreements with various national media companies including The Herald, DC Thomson and Trinity Mirror and Chris is also in discussions with media companies in the US and China.
As well as offering travellers inside knowledge on destinations, talkholiday has a unique Crisis Support feature for its members and securely holds details of vital information should they lose their passport, mobile phone or bags on holiday.
These can then be accessed or sent to emergency contacts, whose details are encrypted on the site, getting a trip abroad back on track. The feature also offers interpreters, destination risk assessments, private consular services and vaccinations.
Talkholiday is definitely going places!
If you have any questions for our corporate team then please contact either Alan Stalker or Angus McGuire on 01383 721 621.
