About Us
Specialists in School Travel: Worldwide Educational Trips / Flagship Ski Programme
As an Employee Owned school trip specialist, we’re passionate about creating enriching and memorable experiences for students and teachers alike. From worldwide educational tours to our flagship ski programmes, every trip is 100% protected—giving schools complete peace of mind. Our dedicated team, based across the UK, carefully plans and delivers each journey to inspire learning, adventure, and lasting memories in Europe and beyond.
From Family Owned to Employee Owned
Select School Travel is entering an exciting new chapter as we transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). This important milestone will help secure our future, protect our independence and recognise the people behind our success. While our ownership structure is changing, our commitment to schools, teachers and delivering memorable educational travel experiences remains exactly the same.
Martyn Bowden
Trustee
Stephen Spooner
Trustee
Anna Timpson
Trustee/HR Manager
Bryn Robinson
Trustee/ Non-Exec Director
Sam Whybrow
Trustee
Ian Foxall
Managing Director
Janet Ford
Sales Director
Neil Abraham
Operations Director
Jeremy Maine
Finance Director
Ann Brown
Non-Exec Director
Bryn Robinson
Trustee/Non-Exec Director
Neil Abraham
Operations Director
Susie McKenzie
Head of Contracting
Jane Harrington
Aviation Manager
Denis Pfei
Overseas Contractor - Austria
Barbara Silecchia
Operations Manager - Italy
Snehal Thanki
Operations Executive - Italy
Carina Gaschler
Ski Administrator Austria
Giuseppe Del Prete
Operations Executive - Italy
Jeremy Maine
Finance Director
Pete Horne
Finance Manager
Yuliya O’Hara
Finance Executive
Anna Timpson
Trustee/HR Manager
Alistair McKinley-Brown
Marketing Manager
Emilie Lehkyj
Marketing Coordinator
Steve Ringwood
Educational Tours Manager
Sally Berzins
Destination Specialist
Clare Hale
Sales and Operations Support
Henri Stewart
Chief of Staff
Lucy Gascoigne-Pees
Customer Services Manager
Laura Kochanski
Tour Coordinator – USA & Canada
Miranda Jump
Tour Coordinator
Ella Ward
Tour Coordinator
Gemma Armstrong
Tour Coordinator
Isabella Pearce
Tour Coordinator
Nicole Martin
Tour Coordinator
Molly McMillan
Tour Coordinator
Louisa Goodsell-Collett
Operations Executive
Claudia Barahona
Tour Operations Coordinator
Adam Roney
Sales Manager
Janet Ford
Sales Director & Regional Travel Advisor
Ann Brown
Travel Specialist
Sharon Nobes
Regional Travel Advisor
Sarah Booth
Regional Travel Advisor
Fleur Moquet-Kenny
Regional Travel Advisor
Karen Pooley
Regional Travel Advisor
Mark Scarrett
Regional Travel Advisor
Steff Done
Regional Travel Advisor
Michael Wright
Regional Travel Advisor
Tammie Smith
Regional Travel Advisor
Company Values
Pride
Pride in everything we do is what makes us stand out from our competitors, and taking pride in producing and delivering the best school trips we possibly can is absolutely what sets us apart.
Going Above & Beyond
At Select we value those who strive to go above and beyond in everything they do, from providing additional support to a new party leader to helping their peers and teammates out when they are feeling the pressure, Select truly values those who will go that step further.
Team Work
A successful school trip with Select is only possible because of the hard work of every member of the business. Team work really is at the heart of everything we do, regardless of where you sit in the office/at home, and is absolutely the measure of our success.
The John Bowden Legacy
Originally a mill driven by the River Seulles, the Château du Baffy was built around 1735, with extensions added in the late 18th and early 19th Century. The mill was dismantled in 1840, but some remains are still visible.
1967 - Hourmont
After responding to a job advert, John moved from Cardiff to Bristol to embark on his first role in school travel with Mark Hourmont. John went on to play a major part in Hourmont’s success.
1972 – Schools Abroad
John was poached by Peter Hopkins, a previous employee of Hourmont, after they bumped into each other on a flight. Their offices were on Church Road, just a few doors down from where we now reside.
1977 - Skiplan
A new schools venture, this time with John at the helm. The company went on to be sold to Intersun, having captured the school ski market in its infancy.
1985 – SkiBound / TravelBound
Under John’s leadership these brands became market leaders in educational tours and school ski overnight, and led the way in school travel for many years before being sold to First Choice plc.
1999 – STS / Skiplan
Shearing’s Coaches sold School Travel Service, originally founded in 1933, to John as a shell of a business. Revitalised, and joined with SkiPlan, it began to compete with the market leaders, much to their dismay.
2008 – Select Chalets & Hotels
After selling STS/SkiPlan to School Travel Group, John built the chalet ‘Panorama’ in the picturesque village of Maria Alm, Austria. Its sister chalet, ‘Sonne’ followed shortly after.
2015 – Select School Travel
With his son Martyn, John brought members of his old management team together to rival and disrupt the market of school travel, once again. This same year the beloved Hotel Beausoleil in Alpe D’Huez was retired.
2026 – Select School Travel | Employee Owned
With his son Martyn, John brought members of his old management team together to rival and disrupt the market of school travel, once again. This same year the beloved Hotel Beausoleil in Alpe D’Huez was retired.