In the second of our series of interviews with the bosses of the UK’s best tour operators, we meet Pete Tyler, managing director of Neilson Active Holidays.
Pete began his career as a sailing and windsurfing instructor in the early 1980s. He is now based at the company’s HQ in Brighton Marina where he heads up an impressive list of operators – Neilson Active & Yachting Holidays, Neilson Ski & Snowboard, Airtours Ski and Swiss Travel Service. Along with his wife Alison, a nurse, Pete is a keen sailor, skier and mountain biker.
• Hi, Pete. Where are you planning to go on holiday this year, and why?
“In June we head to Turkey to Club Teos (pictured above), the new Neilson Beach Plus Club. Turkey is one of my favourite destinations. I worked there for 2 years a while back and love the people, their culture and food. I enjoy the sailing and windsurfing, whilst Alison takes part in all the mountain bike rides. She reads novels, whilst I meet new mates at the bar.
“In November we plan to visit the new Neilson resort in Kenya. It’s only just gone on sale and the mix of activities and safari sounds fantastic. Later in the year I will squeeze in a pre-Christmas ski holiday, probably to Sweden.”
• What is your favourite getaway in the UK, and why?
“My home from home is Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. This is Alison’s home patch and we keep a cruising yacht moored near a famous old pub called Daft Eddy’s, named after a local smuggler. The sailing is always interrupted by great pubs, great seafood and lots of rain!”
• If you could spend a long weekend in any city abroad, which would you pick, and why?
“I’m not a city person, but I do like Dubrovnik in Croatia. The food is fantastic; not cheap, but great value. The squid ink risotto is a local specialty. The beach is just outside the city walls – so not too far for a swim.”
• Please tell us three items that are always found in your luggage.
“I am a bit of a gadget man. My Palm Treo never leaves my side and keeps me in contact 24/7. I have always been a fan of iPods, and the new iPod Touch is a great invention. For long flights I use Bose noise reduction headphones.”
• What one thing would most improve people’s overall holiday experience?
“Understand the local culture and get to grips with the food.”
• What has been your worst holiday experience?
“Tunisia. Alison and I went mountain biking there but we got chased everywhere by hoards of dogs and couldn’t find a decent map, so we got lost a lot. Although the hotel was a 4-star palace, there was no life in it, or outside it. Maybe we didn’t research enough.”
• Tell us your favorite hotel: in the UK; in mainland Europe; in the rest of the world.
“We went on a River Cottage gardening course recently and stayed in a lovely B&B hotel near Axminster, The Ridgeway Country Hotel. Great local food and I would recommend the Oak Room. In Europe it would have to be one of the Neilson Beach Clubs. My favourite place to stay is in one of the garden rooms at The Seaside Hotel in Turkey.
“For a far-flung hotel I find the Calabash in Grenada difficult to beat. It offers cozy rooms, a private plunge pool and great food, with breakfast cooked on your terrace. Take a bike and explore the rainforest and especially the Beach House restaurant by the airport. Their tuna is the best you will find.”
• What is the most exciting project your company is working on right now?
“With a new centre opening in Turkey in May, and another in Kenya in November and a new fleet of yachts just arrived in Greece, we have plenty going on at the moment. There are other new projects in the pipeline for launch in September.”
• Thank you, Pete.
Tags: Neilson