We want to bring you closer to some of the team at Adara and give you an insight into the crucial roles they play. The first in the series kicks off with Steve Hawker, our Marketing Director for EMEA & APAC.
Steve is responsible for marketing outside of North America, and works with commercial teams based in offices in many varied locations including London, Barcelona, Paris, Frankfurt, Singapore, Japan, Sydney and Hong Kong.
Before joining Adara 6 months ago, Steve worked for some of the leading advertising/media companies in Europe including IPC Media, Primesight Outdoor, Amobee and The Guardian.
What do you do at Adara?
Like any marketer, I am responsible for shaping and promoting the Adara brand via the numerous communication channels available, including EDM, social media, events, advertising or printed collateral.
Our sales teams are ultimately the most effective communication channel between Adara and our clients so I need to work very closely with the commercial leaders around the world to ensure that they are receiving the right support in the most effective areas. As well as the traditional marketing channels, I work closely with the sales strategy team to ensure we are arming the sales team with the right collateral at the right time.
What is the biggest day to day challenge you face in your role, and how do you try to overcome that?
Managing my inbox! Working across multiple time zones requires a unique skill to manage time effectively. Our APAC offices’ day starts 9 hours before mine and my boss who lives in California finishes 8 hours after me. This means there is a danger of potentially being online almost 24 hours a day and it’s important to try and manage this, as taking some down time is vital to remain efficiently productive.
What is the biggest challenge you face in the next 12 months and how are you preparing to face it?
I’m going to avoid discussing the political hot potato that is Brexit too much as I’m not sure anyone really knows how this will affect us yet, but as a global company, I am hopeful it will be business as usual for most of us at Adara.
The biggest challenge I will personally face in the next 12 months, is how we build on the solid marketing foundations that have been laid over the last 2 years and ensure that Adara continues to grow at a rapid pace. I need to ensure our newer markets have the right marketing framework to build our brand successfully whilst also ensuring that our more established markets have the right support for continued expansion.
What do you love about working in the travel sector?
What’s not to love?! Traveling is a huge passion of mine and I feel privileged to be able to immerse myself in an industry that allows me to learn more about the interesting and exciting experiences, destinations and adventures that exist in the world. I’m only 6 months into my role at Adara but it’s obvious that it’s an industry filled with that same passion and although we all face tough challenges every day and often compete against each other, it’s that passion for travel that holds us together as an industry.
What is your favorite holiday destination?
I’m in love with Rome. I have been there twice and it’s my favorite place in the world by far. I am visiting Italy again in a few weeks to visit Venice, Florence, Pisa and the Calabria region so I’m hoping I love those places just as much.
What is your #1 Bucket list travel destination?
I took my wife to Iceland as a surprise to see the Northern Lights when we got engaged and it was the perfect weekend trip – apart from the clouds. They ruined our chances of actually seeing the Northern Lights, therefore my bucket list destination would be anywhere that I can actually see them at some point!
What are the three things you would take with you to a deserted island?
- I’m going to be a bit soppy first of all and say my family (That counts as one right?!) as I always miss them while I’m away and my wife is the one who keeps me sane most of the time so I would definitely need her with me!
- However, as much as I love her I’m pretty sure we would run out of things to talk about pretty quickly so a fully loaded Kindle (With a solar powered charger?!) would probably be the best of all the gadgets to take with me! (I’m guessing there’s not much phone signal on this island?!)
- I need my sleep and sleeping on the floor would not be ideal, therefore a hammock would be essential!