Blue Chip Holidays Appoints New Managing Director For National Growth

Exeter-based Blue Chip Holidays, the South West’s largest provider of four and five star self catering holiday homes, is pleased to announce the appointment of Allan Lambert as new Managing Director. Lambert, who has been appointed to spearhead the business’ nationwide growth strategy, joins from leading domestic tour operator Bourne Leisure. He takes over from Alan Taylor on 28 March. Taylor remains on the Board of Directors.

Commenting on Lambert’s appointment Liam Gavin, Chairman of Blue Chip Holidays, said: “Our goal is to take Blue Chip Holidays from being a regional leader to a national leader, offering a growing selection of high end self catering holiday homes and lodges in key locations across the UK. This year alone we aim to grow from 890 four and five star properties to in excess of 1,200, and over the next two years we are targeting a national portfolio of more than 1,500 properties.

“Allan is perfectly placed to enable the business to achieve these growth plans having held senior sales, marketing and commercial roles across Bourne Leisure working for the Butlins, Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels brands. Allan also brings with him excellent industry contacts as a Director of the Institute of Travel and Tourism, a Charity Ambassador for the Family Holiday Association, and having previously been Chairman of TIPTO – the Truly Independent Professional Travel Organisation.”

Over the past five years Blue Chip Holidays has grown from 480 properties to over 900 and has made several senior appointments including that of Richard Carrick, former CEO of Hoseasons, who joined the board as a Non-Executive Director in 2011. Since then John Whitaker, former Financial Director within the Wyndham Worldwide Group has joined, followed by Stewart Black, former Head of Sales at Homeaway Holiday Rentals; Clive Haden, former Director of Development at Hoseasons and Sam Wrigglesworth, former Business Development Manager for Hoseasons Holidays’ Lodges and Parks division.

Allan will be driving the business’ expansion into a range of key new locations across the UK. The first of these is Yorkshire, where the business has just appointed the former Managing Director of Dales Holiday Cottages, Jonathan Smith, to head up property acquisition in the county. The Cotswolds, Wales and high demand locations around the South East coast are also on Blue Chip Holidays’ target list.

In addition to geographical expansion, the business is also pursuing new markets and holiday rental concepts including the holiday lodge market, where it aims to bring on board over 200 four and five star lodges nationwide over the next two years. Its aim is to provide serious competition to the market leader Hoseasons through the provision of more flexible owner contracts and a focus on high end lodges.

Commenting on his appointment Allan Lambert said: “I’m very excited to be joining Blue Chip Holidays at such a significant time for the business with its ambitious plans and appetite for growth. I look forward to working with the senior leadership team to help achieve their strategic goals and aspirations to grow the business in holiday regions, product portfolio and routes to market.”