What Does it Take to Run a Global TMC?

an honest interview with our CEO Suzanne Horner

The Life of a CEO

  • What drives the CEO of a travel management company?
  • How can you have a successful career in business travel?
  • What might the future of the travel industry look like?

Our CEO Suzanne Horner recently chatted to Paul Richer on the ‘Parlez with Paul’ webinar series from the Travel Technology Initiative (TTI). The candid interview took viewers on a journey through Suzanne’s remarkable career, focusing on her rise through the travel industry ranks and the philosophies for success she defined along the way.

TTI logo

Suzanne spoke openly about her formative roles in travel at Airtours and British Airways and how, in 2011, she joined Gray Dawes with the promise of generating a turnover of £100m in five years. It was a bold statement, but not without conviction. After just four years, Gray Dawes’ turnover increased from £28m to hit the £100m target.

But her ambition didn’t stop there. As a self-confessed straight-talking businesswoman who likes to set tough goals and achieve them, Suzanne has steered Gray Dawes to an annual turnover of £250m and overseen the development of a new, global strategy which focuses on offering a service that ‘follows the sun’.

Watch Now

Watch the interview to hear Suzanne’s advice for aspiring leaders, her take on the future of AI-driven travel technology, and her insights into company growth after acquiring offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Miami.

TRAVEL TALKS

If you like webinars, then be sure to check out Travel Talks. It’s our very own webinar series in which we discuss all the latest business travel trends and topics.

Each episode offers insight, how-to’s and top tips on subjects such as building traveller confidence, implementing a sustainable travel policy, creating successful corporate travel programmes and more! It’s even available as podcast to listen to on the move.

Related Articles

Milan: A Business Traveller’s Guide

Milan: A Business Traveller’s Guide

Considered by many as one of the fashion capitals of the world – unsurprising when you consider it’s home to luxury brands including Prada, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana – it can be easy to overlook Milan as just a place for those in the business of clothes and catwalks. In this comprehensive guide for business travellers, we help you navigate Milan’s unique business ecosystem, share practical tips for getting around, and highlight our top 3 things to see or do to make your trip unforgettable.

US Flight Disruptions Amid Federal Government Shutdown

US Flight Disruptions Amid Federal Government Shutdown

Dear Traveler, We want to make you aware of significant flight disruptions across the United States as a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instructed airlines to reduce air traffic by up to 10% at 40 of...

Rethinking Ground Transportation in Business Travel

Rethinking Ground Transportation in Business Travel

In business travel, so much time and effort is (rightly) devoted to securing the lowest air fares, the best hotel rates, and fine-tuning travel policies. Yet in the midst of all these moving parts, how people get from their home to the airport into an office and back again, is often overlooked. In this article we explore what ground transportation really covers, why getting it right matters, and how a Travel Management Company (TMC) can help you add value at every step of your journey.