Where We Have Been! May 2019

16th May 2019

The Dream Escape team is constantly travelling in search of new experiences. Here is what we have discovered in April and May.

The Dream Escape Team has been out and about exploring the far corners of the UK and Ireland meeting with suppliers and educating visiting advisors as well as keeping our own teams up to date with new experiences and information on our destinations.

It has been a busy time of year for all departments and we are delighted that we have been able to share our expertise and love of Ireland with preferred advisors in back to back educational trips. Dream Escape hosted a very successful and enjoyable Irish Educational Trip with JH Hotels & Companies last month, led by Head of Guiding, Rosie and joined by Head of Sales, Emer and owners, David and Holly Tobin. Read our blog to find out more, and watch this space for exciting news on the Valerie Wilson Educational journey we are currently hosting.

Sales and Marketing Team

Sue Morris – Head of Marketing 

Sue visited Cowdray House and Park for a site visit, meeting with the sales team and was treated to a lovely afternoon tea. The sun was shining and the estate was looking beautiful, a perfect location for an exclusive use stay in the English countryside.

Sue also met with Dream Escape owners, Holly and David, Emer (Head of Sales), Louise Murray (Creative Planner), Sally Strange (London Guide) and Sarah Butler (Marketing Executive) for a Sales and Marketing meeting and catch-up at the Covent Garden Hotel, part of the Firmdale Group. The group met in Tiffany’s Library meeting room and enjoyed the warm hospitality and beautiful interiors of this Kit Kemp designed hotel perfectly placed for a wander around the eclectic streets of Covent Garden.

Emer Mortell – Head of Sales 

Emer was on the road for sales meetings in Minneapolis, St Louis and Chicago with The Merrion and Adare Manor. She also visited Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco with partners Gleneagles and Adare Manor, meeting new advisors and educating them about Dream Escape and what we can do.

Emer also enjoyed a fabulous luxury stay at Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare , Adare Manor in Limerick and Dromoland Castle in County Clare over Easter.

Planning Department:

Lesley Scott – Head of Creative Planning 

Lesley took a well deserved break for a site visit to Ireland’s south coast visting Cobh, Kinsale and Cork. She enjoyed a private maritime themed, walking tour in Cobh, a private foodie tour in Cobh in addition to a private tour of Midleton Distillery.  She also visited some of our Irish properties including Castlemartyr and Hayfield Manor.

Michael Davies – Creative Planner 

Michael was joined by Managing Director Claire Stone for a walk around Oxford with lunch at the Old Bank Hotel.

Over Easter, Michael took the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway from Cheltenham to Broadway – popped into the Lygon Arms and also visited National Trust Properties – Dyrham Park near Bath, and Westbury Court near Gloucester.

Michael also enjoyed a lovely lunch at Simpsons-in-the-Strand, at The Savoy.

Guiding Department

Rosie Peattie – Head of Guiding 

Rosie covered much of Ireland during the Dream Escape and JH & Hotels educational trip.

In addition she travelled far and wide in Scotland and covered a private post opening visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia, Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, the newly refurbushed Wallace Monument, Stirling Castle, Old Logie Kirk & Graveyard, Innerpeffray Library, Culross, Blackness Castle, Falkirk Wheel, Rough Castle, Antonine wall (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Dunkeld Cathedral, a picnic Buffet at Loch Ness, Fort George, and a 4×4 tour and picnic at Rothiemurchus Estate.

In London, Rosie visited the Royal Opera House and Covent Garden.

Sally Strange – London Guide 

In London, Sally visited the Kingsman Room for lunch at Berry Brothers and onto Huntsman for suit fitting.

She attended an Easter Day Pre-Opening at The Tower where the Yeoman Warders were in their State Uniforms for Her Majesty’s Birthday, a Street Art Tour and the newly conserved Painted Hall and Undercroft at Greenwich (pictured below).

Outside London, she visited Cliveden Spring Gardens, Palm Sunday Parade at Taplow Church, and Ashdown Forest – following in the footsteps of the iconic children’s literary character, Winner the Pooh.