The Ski-Direct Team
David Tonks - Ski & Activities Manager
David has worked in the travel and tourism industry for 25 years, 15 of which have been with either a ski tour operator or specialist ski agent. A keen skier, David has visited many of the main and smaller ski resorts alike.
Charged with developing sales of Ski-Direct, he says he is immensely proud of the continued expansion of the company and the number of repeat customers. He appreciates that many customers still prefer the high levels of Service that they will find by booking through a specialist agent like Ski-Direct rather than booking through other channels.
His hobbies apart from skiing include music, hiking and seeing as much of the world as possible. The latest adventure was a year long sabbatical around the world in 2008/09 with a 6 month circular tour of South America, then the South Pacific, Australasia, Indonesia, Japan and China.
Helen Furlong (nee Williams) - Ski & Activity specialist - Winner of the 2011 TTG "Agent of the year" award
Helen has worked for over 25 years is the travel industry, 18 of which were spent working overseas for British tour operators such as Airtours, Crystal and Neilson.
She has lived and worked in many European Ski and summer destinations as well as Australia, North America, Egypt and Barbados! One of her most demanding roles was operating school ski trips to California, New England and Canada - including one February Half term in Quebec, at minus 30, with 25 schools and 1800 children.
Helen has bee a keen skier for almost 30 years. Her snowboarding husband, Nigel, works alongside her and their 11-year-old daughter has been skiing since she was a toddler and has just started racing for Cardiff Ski Club. They try to ski in at least 2 different resorts every season and there are not that many ski areas left of their list to try out!
Helen feels that these factors and her experience working in resorts enable her to meet the specific needs of her Ski-Direct clients - whatever they are looking for. Many of Helen’s customers come back year after year to book their holiday with her and she also organises over 50 group bookings every season.
Julie Bowden - Ski & Activity specialist
Julie has worked in the travel industry in the UK for 20 years and before that spent many years travelling the world, living and working in several countries including Japan and Denmark.
She has been a keen skier for 25 years and has skied in most main ski resorts around the world. She is also an experienced hiker having trekked in the Himalayas, the Karakorums and the Alps and has climbed Mount Fuji (twice!). Always ready for a challenge, she's never been known to shy away from the most complicated itinerary so if you want to combine skiing in Japan with the beaches of Hawaii, she's your girl!
These days the demands of a family have curtailed the more adventurous exploits so her hobbies these days include Leroc Jive dancing, running a local amateur dramatic group and hosting Murder Mystery dinner parties.
Gina Meredith-Wright - Ski & Activity specialist
Gina has been in travel for the majority of her working life. From organising holidays to the Channel Islands from over 70 different airports for a specialist tour operator and travel agency, to creating travel packages for Wales' largest provider of rugby supporter tours, her knowledge of the industry is well grounded.
The past 12 years however have been spent as Operations Manager for one of the UK's leading school ski operators creating bespoke ski holidays to Europe and North America. It was in this role that Gina soon learnt that when it comes to ski, the key to a successful vacation is to understand exactly what the client is looking for, matching that to the ideal accommodation in the ideal resort. It is this expertise that Gina brings to Ski-Direct clients.
Claire Mundy - Ski & Activity specialist
Working in the travel industry is my second career and ultimately my career of choice. I have skied since I was five and have been lucky enough to travel extensively and spend time living abroad, close to some of the world's premier ski resorts. This has given me a unique insight to allow me to get the best holiday for you, whether you're a complete beginner or a black run devotee!
I've also skied as a singleton, in large groups, and now with my family so I'm well placed to understand what you want from your holiday whatever your party size or circumstances are. Having skied for over 30yrs, I have spent the last three seasons teaching my six year old twins to ski (which has proved very challenging but also very rewarding !).
Sue Lofthouse - Ski & Activity specialist
My entire lifetime has been involved in travel, having been born into the hotel industry which I also pursued, later marrying a hotelier too! My career has been a little more extensive however and taken me far and wide as air crew and a travel agent.
I am a keen skier and introduced my children to the sport at an early age. Since then we have skied many resorts across the USA and Europe and each one has its own charm. This experience of course, makes me very aware of clients’ individual and ever-changing criteria and assists me in selecting the right resort and accommodation for you.
I am also a keen cyclist, rambler and golfer but have to admit this usually centres around finding a cosy watering hole and eaterie!