Women who lead
A good trip should be equal parts eye-opening and restorative. GH recognises the trailblazing women at the helm of our happy holidays
Katie McAlister has spent the past 25 years climbing to the top of travel. Now president of iconic luxury brand Cunard, she’s playing on her passion for the sea.
I grew up in Northumberland but my parents had a time-share on the Costa del Sol. There, some of my fondest childhood memories were made, hours spent by the pool or in the sea.
Years later, I returned to Spain as a student. I had a deep curiosity for different languages and cultures. While studying for a French and Spanish degree, I spent a winter in Grenoble, France, followed by a summer in Murcia, Spain. Much of my time was spent on the slopes or the beach! That experience inspired a sense of wanderlust and a desire to immerse myself in new places.
After graduating, my first job was for Thomson Holidays (now TUI), buying hotel rooms for package holidays. The company had a big programme in Spain, and I thought it would help me become fluent in Spanish, then I’d apply for a ‘proper’ job back home. But actually, I had a fantastic time (and ended up working everywhere but Spain!). I saw what a privilege it was to take people on holiday and I fell totally in love with that.
I worked for TUI for 20 years, across many different areas, until I eventually worked my way up to marketing chief. But I had been admiring cruise operator Cunard from afar for a while.
The British cruise line is famous for its heritage spanning more than 180 years. During the Golden Age of cruising, many of Hollywood’s biggest names travelled with Cunard – from Cary Grant to Elizabeth Taylor and Charlie Chaplin. But even now, the brand is evolving the experience of ocean travel with its fleet of three luxurious yet modern ships. The 107-night-long Full World Voyage is famous for taking passengers right the way from Southampton to Mexico, San Francisco, Fiji, Hong Kong and everywhere in between.
In August last year, I took the helm as president at Cunard, overseeing the international operation of the business. My focus is to grow the business, but in a way that retains Cunard’s renowned luxury signature touches.
Cunard carries up to 200,000 guests a year. We’re about to launch our newest ship, Queen Anne, in May this year. We sought expertise from the designers behind some of the world’s most luxurious hospitality destinations, including Claridge’s in London and Dubai’s Atlantis The Palm. Martin Francis, the architect who was part of creating the Louvre’s pyramid, designed the glass pavilion that will house our wellness offering.
As it happens, Queen Anne sets sail on my birthday. Then, her maiden world voyage in January 2025 will take her to more than 30 citie
