British travel brands recognised in Walpole Power List

Each individual on the list has played a key role in shaping the present and future of the £48 billion UK luxury sector, according to Walpole, which is the UK trade body for luxury brands.

Among this year’s list of honourees is Black Tomato’s head of product Carolyn Addison, who has been instrumental in shaping the company’s travel experiences and introducing innovative new services such as Bring it Back and Take Me on a Story. Similarly, Pelorus’ sustainability project manager Megan Williams has been recognised for her work developing the luxury travel operator’s charitable arm.

Elsewhere, luxury travel company True Travel’s commercial director Molly Pigott was included on the list of influential individuals as the flag bearer of the brand’s messaging and values since she joined in 2015. British cruise line Cunard also received a mention, with senior manager Cristina Munoz named among the luxury brand leaders making waves.

Hotel and hospitality leaders also featured heavily in Walpole’s Power List, including Ewan Venters OBE, who is the chief executive of Artfarm – the independent hospitality company behind the award-winning Fife Arms in Braemar. Seasoned hospitality professional Charlotte Weatherall was included for her work as director of sales and marketing at luxury hotel Corinthia London, while Sarah Emburey made the list for her work developing the Cowdray country estate brand in West Sussex.

London’s luxury hotels received plenty of plaudits in this year’s list with a handful of senior managers named among the honourees. These included the Londoner’s director of marketing and e-commerce Siraj Singh; The Dorchester’s general manager Luca Virgilio; The Peninsula London’s managing director Sonja Vodusek; and Laura Facetti, who is head of membership development at hotel and members’ club The Ned.

Global head of communications for Maybourne Hotel Group, Paula Fitzherbert, who works across Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley in London, was among the heavy hitters on Walpole’s list. Another luxury London hotel, The Lanesborough, was highlighted with the naming of Antoinette Lettieri, head of events and event partnerships among the top luxury leaders for 2024. Belgravia boutique hotel The Hari was also commended with sales manager Marta Milli making the Walpole Power List. 

High-quality UK attractions and entertainment venues were spotlighted too, with the inclusion of the Old Vic’s corporate development officer Priya Radhakrishnan; The Lakes Distillery’s master whisky maker Sarah Burgess; and Ruaridh Jackson, private client manager at Scotland’s oldest working distillery Glenturret, which also has a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Unveiling the list at a ceremony at The Lanesborough, Walpole’s CEO Helen Brocklebank said: "Every individual on this list is a testament to the unparalleled talent and innovation embedded in the core of the UK’s high-end creative brands. Together, they represent the Team GB of British business."