Our small team is waiting to help you!

HOLIDAY INSPIRATIONS LIMITED is staffed by an ultra-friendly and highly experienced team who are always focused on you - our wonderful customers - and your exact holiday requirements.

Neil Basnett - Holiday Designer and Director

Having worked in the travel industry since 1973, Neil has an extensive knowledge of arranging holidays worldwide. His 16 years of working for Thomas Cook included a spell of 3 years in their House of Commons office, making travel arrangements for MPs, Lords, political staff and Palace of Westminster employees. Branches which he managed included Bayswater in London, Newbury, Birmingham and Norwich.

He also worked for Tana Travel in Stratford-upon-Avon, latterly as its Managing Director. This is where he developed his expertise in arranging tailor-made holidays to many destinations but especially Africa, the Indian Ocean, Australasia, India and Costa Rica.

Over many years, Neil has attended many travel trade shows in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Dubai, India, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. More recently, Neil has attended travel trade shows in the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan.   

Within the Travel Industry, Neil has also been Chairman of SATOA (Southern Africa Travel Organisers' Association) and the Elite Travel Group (a consortium of top independent travel agents). Locally, Neil has been Chairman of Stratforward (Stratford-upon-Avon's Business Development District).

Favourite holiday destinations? New Zealand, Cape Town and Aitutaki Atoll in the Cook Islands.

Philip Mannion - Holiday Designer and Director

Philip started his long career in the travel industry in 1982, employed by Wings Holidays in Birmingham. He then worked for Thomas Cook before moving to Beach Villas and Forward Travel where he managed the office in Shirley, Solihull. He also worked at Tana Travel in Stratford-upon-Avon for 15 years as manager of the retail travel agency and ultimately as a director of the company. He therefore has a broad knowledge of the travel industry, both as a travel agent and tour operator. 

Philip has much expertise in arranging tailor-made holidays to many destinations but especially Dubai and the Middle East, the Indian Ocean and  the Caribbean.

Philip has attended travel trade shows in Dubai,South Africa andFiji where he developed a good working knowledge of the destinations as well as the hotels and ground services.  

Favourite holiday destinations? Mustique in the Caribbean, Oman and Mauritius.

Rebecca Mead - Holiday Designer

Becky has worked in the travel industry for over 20 years now, (since leaving college) she has expert knowledge in tailor made holidays and worldwide cruises. Becky previously worked with us in Stratford - Upon - Avon at Tana Travel, and has also worked for other tour operators including a villa specialist. She currently works part time in our office in Stratford and also for another lovely independent Travel Agency called Journey The World in Knowle. 

Becky's knowledge of the various cruise lines, expedition cruises and worldwide destinations is extensive. She has personally been on many ships visits and enjoys her own personal cruise holidays. 

She has travelled to many destinations including the Far East inclduing Hong Kong, Thailand, The Middle East, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, The Caribbean, Barbados, Aruba and Tobago to name a few, Northern Europe including Riga, Norway, Scandinavia and the Batlic, and many countries within Europe. 

Over the years and whilst she worked at Tana she has gained a huge amount of knowledge in countries such as Africa, South America and Australia and New Zealand, tailoring each journey personally for our clients. 

Favourite holiday destinations? Sri Lanka, Tobago and Thailand.

John Hall - Holiday Designer

John started his travel career at Lunn Poly in 1978, which then went on to become the brand we now know as TUI.

Whilst he was there he worked his way up to be the manager of the branches in Rugby, Daventry and Hinckley. John has lots of worldwide knowledge and enjoys putting together tailormade trips together for our clients

After leaving, John then went on to spend 26 years at Carrick Travel in Leamington Spa and in Kenilworth. Where he contiuned to book worldwide holidays, rail journey's and cruises for his clients. He now works with us here in the office every Saturday. 

Favourite countries - Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Barbados.