Head brings more than 20 years of industry experience to her new role with the villa specialist, including spells with Abercrombie & Kent, Virgin's Hip Hotels and ITC Travel Group. Her key goals for 2026 include driving higher conversion and "improving customer experience".
General manager Laura Ingeri said SPL Villas was "investing more than ever" in agents this year. All trade bookings made during January and February will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a spot on an SPL fam to Croatia in May, which includes a stay at the Villa Olbalski. The trip will be led by SPL business development manager Sarah Gill.
Ingeri added: "Crucially, we’re listening to feedback from agents. With more than 30% of trade bookings now fully transacting online, we’ve enhanced our website experience and are now offering even more ways to book."
SPL Villas, which was founded in 2017 by Sandra and Peter Linnell, relaunched to the trade in 2024, and has for the past two years worked hard to forge new relationships with agents.
This includes offering agents "guaranteed price parity" and launching flight-inclusive packages, and signing distribution agreements with Hays Travel and The Travel Network Group, which made its 1,500-plus properties available across both networks from March 2024.
Head added: "SPL Villas prides itself on its customer-first focus and retains the values and culture of a family business, all the while being a well-regarded disruptor with highly ambitious growth plans. It’s a very exciting time to join and I’m ready to get stuck in and help guide the team through this phase of transformation and growth."
