So, apart from money, power and a place on an admirable directory of prosperous people, what do they have that you don’t?

Some have drive, energy, intellect and charisma; many of them were given great advice and financial backing, while some were just given a giant novelty cheque.

Generally speaking, there are two way of getting on the Rich List. You can either be given it, or you can work incredibly hard. The most satisfying, of course, is earning it through hard work, tenacity, steady promotions and some wise investments.

If you’re looking for the next move up on your career ladder, we want to hear from you. Gail Kenny Recruitment is a leading name in candidate sourcing. Part of the Gail Kenny Group is GK Executive Search, working with roles starting from £100k.

Follow @GailKennyRec on Twitter and join our LinkedIn to keep informed of our new roles, new and group discussions.

Will you be offering flexitime for your staff, with early starts and early finishes? Or perhaps you’ll be staying open even longer to cope with the increased business that the increased tourism will bring. Either way, it’s going to be a change of pace.

The new website GetAheadOfTheGames.com provides details of the 88 train stations that will be affected across the UK. Also included are full details of the travel hotspots and possible alternative routes.

In a report on ThisIsLondon.co.uk, the transport commissioner, Peter Hendy said: “London is going to operate very differently this summer with the capital transforming into a giant Games-time cultural and sporting venue.”

The development of technology and Social Media has never been more important here. Now everyone can let others know problems with their commutes, any new issues and breaking news. Information has never spread faster.

The Gail Kenny Group will be implementing a flexible working hours plan, with some staff working remotely. We encourage our clients and candidates in the Travel industries to ensure that they are ready for the high level of disruption. Setting up remote connections to work servers, accessing shared information and running through your contingency plans are factors that we will all be considering.

If you are making plans for meetings, appointments or job interviews, make sure you adjust your plans for a long wait for transport, or make alternative plans. Here at Gail Kenny Recruitment, we understand that sometimes meeting in-person isn’t always convenient. We regularly conduct Skype interviews with clients and candidates from around the World. We deal with the best talent and appreciate that you’re not always on our doorstep, working abroad or on the go.

Follow @GailKennyRec on Twitter for the latest career opportunities, news and updates. Also join us on LinkedIn and feel free to send us your details to be considered for one of the job posts on GailKennyRecruitment.com

It is not every day that a CEO vacancy comes up, but then CEO’s are not everyday people. This week the press have been positive in their reporting that Thomas Cook has been putting the finishing touches to a refinancing package with its banks. However there are signs of a growing consensus of frustration with the time that it is taking to find a new CEO, after the resignation last summer of Manny Fontenla-Nova, following three successive profit warnings.

The search process for board-level executives can be time-consuming, with notice periods of up to twelve months not uncommon at this level. Getting the right person for the job is imperative, especially when the position is Chief Executive, and it is not difficult to appreciate that it is more important to take the time to find the right person. Rushing the process and appointing someone who is readily available, as opposed to the best fit for the job is a strategy that is bound to unravel.

You see this rushed approach manifest itself in the world of professional football on occasions. Look at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a club desperately trying to avoid relegation from the Premier League. They recently sacked their manager of 5 years standing, but without a definitive succession plan. Several suitably experienced managers with Premiership track records were approached, all of which turned the opportunity down. Wolves were left having to appoint the existing internal deputy, and the run of bad results has continued unabated.

Mr Fontenla-Nova had followed the wrong course strategically and had been slow to adapt the business to the dynamics and trends in the leisure travel industry, however he did have a strong charisma and natural leadership skills, which it is clearly proving difficult to match. The head-hunters who are working on this assignment will eventually find the right person, and the board are right not to rush the process.

The Gail Kenny Group operates a successful Executive Search division, which has delivered on a variety of board level positions across a wide range of businesses primarily with in the travel industry. For more information, visit the GK Executive Search site www.gkexecutivesearch.com

So what makes a good first 100 days? One thing which is critical is to go in with a clear vision. Strategies can sometimes take longer to develop, but people with a clarity of vision will stand out.

It’s important to put your own stamp on a role when you are the new incumbent. Self confidence also helps greatly, and it’s natural for your confidence to drop when you are in a new and sometime alien environment, so keep this in mind and retain your self-belief. But never allow confidence be perceived as arrogance. Building some early key relationships in the company is also important.

In today’s matrix driven environment, having allies is vital to get things done. Also encourage feedback from your team and peers, don’t be afraid to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. Finally don’t forget to listen and assess everything that is going on around you.

You will have to learn and learn fast in those first 100 days.

Follow Gail Kenny Recruitment on Twitter @GailKenny Rec and join our LinkedIn group to stay informed of all the latest Hot Jobs, news and group discussions with the leaders in Recruitment for the Travel and Hospitality industries.

Sister companies Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Australia and Virgin America are all combining the point systems, giving a more unified loyalty programme than before.

In a press release, Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group said: “Virgin got into the airline business three decades ago to offer great value and a brilliant experience. Today’s travelers still choose Virgin for the same reason: because we do things differently. I am thrilled that we can now reward our loyal guests with the ability to fly around the world on Virgin. Yes indeed, Virgin goes all the way!”

The Virgin Travel brands are often referred to as some of the best companies to work for, as rated by employees. In fact, the Virgin group is an admirable career move, with many professionals in the Travel industries wanting to work for Sir Richard Branson’s organisation.

Here at the Gail Kenny Group, we are proud to have worked with Virgin Holidays since our inception over seven years ago. We have frequently been of service and hope to develop our relationship as the brand strives.

For a full list of Travel industry management and executive positions, visit the Gail Kenny Recruitment jobs list and submit your C.V. for our knowledgeable and discreet recruitment team to assist you in your next career move.

Follow Gail Kenny Recruitment on twitter and join our LinkedIn group for ‘Hot Jobs’, news and group discussions.

Now all you have to do is wait for the call. It doesn’t come for a few days and then, just before the close of business the phone rings.   The recruiter or HR person sounds like this call is the one she’s been putting off. It’s the last task of the day and they just want it to get done. Letting you down isn’t a fun job, but it occasionally has to happen. Unfortunately they have no script or guidelines on the correct way to handle rejection calls. This can often leave a sour opinion of the company, which could affect future business and word-of-mouth feedback.

I have had a few during my previous job hunt ranging from “They felt you had too many notes”, “He doesn’t really understand or want a Social Media person”, “You crossed your legs a lot”, all the way to “the HR guy has gone on holiday and won’t be back for a month”. Though I’m pretty sure the last one was just a way of letting me down easily (which was the most annoying).

These are a few criteria that would make the unpleasant phone call slightly less jarring and more motivational.

• Ask if it’s a good time to call
• Thanked me for attending the interview
• Asked if would like feedback, and make it critical and not negative.
• End the phone call on a positive note, perhaps offering to go through some more interview techniques or an offer to join them on LinkedIn so if any new opportunities come up, I’d be the first to know. 

After being denied a job after a relatively short meeting can leave the recruit down-heartened, but it is the job of the Recruiter to let them down softly. It will make the applicant feel hopeful about the future, rather than never wanting to deal with them again and to bad-mouth the company to their colleagues and contacts.

The lesson here is for a recruiter/HR Manager to treat a candidate how he/she would like to be treated – with respect.

Recruitment agencies will always be a useful asset to both job hunters and the companies that are looking for the right candidate.

Often a company will put the word out to a number of agents, letting them know that there is a specific role that needs filling. They just don’t have the time to sift through the hundreds of C.V.s that they receive in response to an article or post on a job website like Monster, JobSite or LinkedIn.

LinkedIn

Business networking websites such as LinkedIn are an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to stay in the game. It’s a place to speak with professionals, join groups for your areas of expertise and apply for jobs. Even if you’re not actively searching but would like to have your name out there, it’s a fantastic tool to keep updated.

Gail Kenny Recruitment and PureGenie are actively involved with their LinkedIn groups, which are not only show a selection of the positions that they have available, but also being a member lets us know that you’re a name to notice.

Who To Avoid

Most recruitment companies will accept any and all C.V.s and play the numbers game. Using quantity over quantity to flood their clients. They often don’t have a strong relationship with the companies who are attempting to fill a position.

Recruiters will often flood the industry with advertising and marketing campaigns. This strategy will reach a wider audience rather than a carefully selected clientele.

What’s The Deal With The Gail Kenny Group?

The Gail Kenny Group are different. Not only do we ensure a discreet application process, but we are proactive about finding a consistently high level of candidates.

Often dealing positions for a selection of a high calibre of clients such as Apple, Virgin Holidays, Trip Advisor and Expedia we work with the best, for the best.

Gail Kenny Executive Search is an established search company specialising in travel and renowned for recruiting the most talented managers of today and tomorrow. We provide a consultative approach, and our philosophy is based on the principles of integrity, confidentiality, honesty and impartiality.

We have several USP or Unique Selling Points that we are particularly proud of. Aside from the aforementioned discretion between clients and candidates, we place our renowned honesty and to be vital in our carefully nurtured relationship between the companies and the selected individuals that have both the required skills and the perfect personality for the opportunity.

Although we primarily work on client specific assignments, we also welcome contact from senior travel executives seeking new opportunities in the online travel world. To join our Talent Bank, email your CV with a brief covering letter to talent@gailkenny.com

Another branch of the Gail Kenny Group is PureGenie Digital Recruitment, catering for the demand for online skills in travel. We recruit SEO Managers, SEM Managers, Affiliates Managers, PPC Managers, Online Marketing Managers, Project Managers.

If you are looking to transfer your online skills into the travel industry, then do make contact apply@puregenie.com

The newspapers have been predicting a huge freeze, epic storms and the country coming to a frozen stand-still and it finally happened, well for a weekend at least.

In London, at least we were treated to a snowy Saturday evening and cold Sunday, accompanied by the usual delayed trains, precarious walking and excited children off to the park with parents in tow.

Heathrow airport had cancelled half of the flights in the hours after the white stuff had stopped falling, trains and tube services have also been disrupted. Around 400 passengers for transatlantic journeys were stranded in Ireland after six London-bound flights were affected.

Angry travellers have been questioning the reasons behind the mass-dissruption to the flights, despite knowing about the impending weather days in advance. Although the airport have said their ”snow plan” had worked “far better” than in previous years. “We took the decision with airlines and air traffic control yesterday to reduce the flight schedule in advance. By cancelling flights in advance airlines have been able to rebook some people on to flights that are departing, and passengers have had better quality information about whether they can fly or not.”

There also have been some delays and cancellations at Stansted and Gatwick airports. Reports have announced that the majority of the disruptions have passed, but check before travelling to your flight.

There were also hundreds of cars, left stranded on the M25 and M40, with some drivers facing a frosty night in their vehicles.

Apart from the areas of the country where the snow was deeper and the gritting resources aren’t so prevalent, this slushy Monday morning doesn’t seem to have made too much of an impact to UK businesses. That is, however unless your company relies on bad weather! A British Gas spokesperson has reported more than 200,000 calls in the last five days compared with the usual winter-week 120,000-140,000 enquiries. Gritting companies have also enjoyed a bumper weekend, though a notably slow mild-winter.

After last year’s snowfall, bringing many areas of the United Kingdom to a complete stand-still and making the commute to and from work impossible, there has been a huge public pressure to be ready for whatever the season brings.

If your business has been affected by this weekend’s weather or you’re making precautions for the rumoured next snowfall, let us know on our Twitter feed @GailKennyRec, LinkedIn Group or by commenting on the blog.

So what makes a good first 100 days? One thing which is critical is to go in with a clear vision. Strategies can sometimes take longer to develop, but people with a clarity of vision will stand out. It’s important to put your own stamp on a role when you are the new incumbent. Self confidence also helps greatly, and it’s natural for your confidence to drop when you are in a new and sometime alien environment, so keep this in mind and retain your self-belief. But never allow confidence be perceived as arrogance. Building some early key relationships in the company is also important.

In today’s matrix driven environment, having allies is vital to get things done. Also encourage feedback from your team and peers, don’t be afraid to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. Finally don’t forget to listen and assess everything that is going on around you.

You will have to learn and learn fast in those first 100 days.

Follow Gail Kenny Recruitment on Twitter @GailKenny Rec and join our LinkedIn group to stay informed of all the latest Hot Jobs, news and group discussions with the leaders in Recruitment for the Travel and Hospitality industries.