Managing Director

Entrepreneurial by nature, you will often hear Greg sounding out a business idea, or asking if something could be done ‘slightly differently’.

Greg is absolutely obsessed with driving value to clients and understanding their objectives. He enjoys the challenge of working on solutions to exceed client expectations and introducing industry leaders to one another within the industry.

Prior to joining the Travel Weekly Group, Greg was the founder and individual responsible for building the Thump Clothing brand and UnEarth Travel app.

Previous to this, Greg worked with Reed Exhibitions where he discovered his love for travel and events working on a selection of the industry's leading exhibitions - World Travel Market London, WTM Africa, WTM Latin America and Arabian Travel Market.

Operations Director

Having been with Connections since its inception in 2014, Evangeline has been part of the integral team that has developed The Connections Way, creating personal, networking environments to help our leaders do business. Now, Evangeline runs the meticulous delivery of all our Connections events.

Working with event partners across the globe, Evangeline makes each event concept a reality. Managing all logistical operations and on-site execution, from agenda creation to experience providers to production, she is the driving force behind our seamless programmes.

Evangeline is also bilingual in English, Spanish, Catalan and Filipino.

Head of Buyer Relations

Saadia works on recruiting buyers for Connections and is committed to helping others build excellent business relationships. A strong believer in forging genuine connections with others, Saadia has a wide global network, which she has introduced to the Connections Way of doing business since joining the company in January 2020.

Prior to joining Connections, Saadia has worked and studied abroad in Berlin, Avignon, New York and Dubai as well as her home town of London. With a strong background in luxury lifestyle management and travel, she has worked with brands such as Quintessentially Dubai as well as Ultra High Net Worth Individuals and GCC Royals.

Saadia speaks several languages and is enthusiastic about showcasing new destinations and experiences.

Head of Sales

Originally from Puglia, Italy, Angelo has been living in Central London for about 15 years before joining Connections in 2021 as Sales Manager.

He started his career in the hospitality industry in 2005, then eventually joined travel events company, This Is Beyond in 2018

After many roles as Reservations Agent and Front Desk Agent at Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Ireland and Italy, Angelo started his career with Morgans Hotel Group in London initially as Sales Coordinator, then later becoming Regional Account Director. He also has experience in the travel industry with Miki Travel and Oceandusk Group.

Angelo’s adventurous nature is as fitting as his favourite quote: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page,” by Saint Augustine.

Head of Marketing

Since joining Connections Luxury, Sarah has made it her mission to bring the brand vision to life and ensure our Community has a premium experience both in-person and online.

Sarah brings a wealth of marketing prowess, having spent a decade working on campaigns for large-scale trade events at organisers such as Reed Exhibitions and Informa. Throughout this time she has pushed for new ways to connect attendees, seeing piles of leads that are never followed up because the conversations are not remembered. This is what initially drew her to the Connections Way of doing business, with its unique human-to-human experience, and she is thrilled to drive this forward.

Never one to sit still, Sarah will come back from her travels exhausted, having explored every corner of a destination to soak it all in. When at home, you’ll find her hiking and running around the UK countryside or gallery-hopping in London. Her favourite place is under a decorated sky, whether aurora, the sunrise or a moonlit masterpiece.

Head of Strategic Partnerships

Laura has over 25 years of international experience in the luxury hotel and travel industries, having worked with recognised brands such as Park Hyatt as Director of Marketing for over 9 years and then managing her own boutique Consultancy and Representation company working with high end hotels and destinations. Fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, Laura lived in NYC, Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Oxford.

In her previous roles, Laura has managed top corporate accounts, their Exco members, celebrities and major artists and public figures on tour such as Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, to name a few, as well as key players in the leisure travel industry and organised and supervised large and complex events.

Laura is also a volunteer and founding member of Asociacion Generar Salud in Spain, where the team applies cutting edge principles of Neuroscience and Psycho Neuro Endochrin Immunology to support people undergoing critical illness and life crisis and their families.

Head of Tourist Board Promotion

Sam, an avid traveller with a desire for discovering new destinations and unique experiences, joined Connections Luxury in 2019. Here, starting as a Sales Manager, he played a key role in shaping the company into the thriving international community it is today.

With previous background in sales at Innovation Enterprise, an events company which provides organizations with cutting-edge insights to drive growth, PR at Third City working across multi-industry brand campaigns, and formerly managing business development at Positive Luxury, a transformative company in the luxury industry, specializing in certification and consultancy for positive change, Sam brings a wealth of experience to the table.

He now leads our tourist board projects and partnerships, where his passion for uncovering hidden gems and showcasing destinations and their finest luxury products uniquely positions him to cater to your tourist board needs.

Head of Events

Fuelled by an insatiable thirst for adventure, Winnie relocated to the UK from San Francisco to join the Connections team.

An accomplished and seasoned professional in the world of luxury hotels and destination marketing, Winnie is an expert in curating unforgettable experiences and nurturing meaningful relationships. She is on a mission to discover secret destinations, uncover hidden gems in different cities, forge new connections, and enrich her understanding of diverse cultures along the way.

As Head of Events, Winnie will lead the team to craft extraordinary moments that not only dazzle but also foster powerful connections among luxury leaders worldwide. She is committed to make every event a remarkable journey and a gateway to lifelong friendships with lasting memories.

Marketing Manager

Alissia joined Connections Luxury in 2021. Since her arrival, she has played a pivotal role in propelling the brand to new heights. Her influence extends across both flagship and bespoke events for Tourism Boards, where she has spearheaded several marketing initiatives. Additionally, Alissia co-produced the 4th and 5th editions of the Connections Luxury Magazine.

Prior to this, Alissia worked for parent company Jacobs Media Group for three years, specifically within the international business development team. Her responsibilities included organising and marketing a wide array of summits, private dinners, and pop-up events for brands such as Travolution, Travel Weekly, and The Resilience Council, spanning multiple global destinations, including the UK, Amsterdam, the UAE, Singapore, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

Alissia also played a key support role for the European operation of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), headquartered in Bangkok. Her efforts helped represent, promote, and foster relations for the PATA brand.

Senior Operations Executive

Jesica is a master of meticulous detail. As senior events executive, she oversees and optimises operational strategies to ensure we consistently deliver the best for our members.

Prior to joining the operations team at Connections Luxury in 2022, Jesica worked as a senior marketing executive at Worldwide Business Research and operation executive for Top Drawer and Home & Gift at Clarion Events.

Originally from Argentina, she moved to London in 2016 and is passionate about travel and discovering new destinations.

Events & Marketing Executive

Hannah supports the coordination and delivery of all Connections Luxury events, bringing to life the Connections Way of doing business. From liaising with valued clients and partners to supporting the programme design, each day can look very different!

Prior to joining Connections, Hannah graduated from the University of Surrey in 2021 where she studied International Events Management, specifically within hospitality and tourism. Her love of travel has led her to incredible destinations like the Philippines, Budapest, New York and Spain.

Combining her two passions of travel and events brought her to Connections, where she has been able to continue her journey and challenge herself as an events professional.

Sales Executive

Adam Maxwell is a highly driven and ambitious individual with a strong interest in the luxury hospitality and sales industry. He started his journey at Connections Luxury in November 2021 as a Sales Coordinator and was promoted to Sales Executive in 2023.

Before joining Connections Luxury, Adam worked at the exclusive members' club, The Ned, for two years, where he developed his passion for luxury travel.

Outside of work, Adam loves to explore new places, try different foods, and keep active with various outdoor activities. He has a particular interest in hiking, which inspired him to create '@Hiked.Up', a social media page dedicated to outdoor hiking enthusiasts. This platform has swiftly grown to a community of over 4,000 followers in less than a year and has established partnerships with outdoor apparel brands.

Marketing Executive

Since May 2023, Pamela has played a key role in spearheading marketing initiatives and seamlessly supports community & be-spoke events across the globe. Notably, she has also contributed on the creation of the 5th edition Connections Luxury Magazine and established a partnership with renowned publishers, including Luxury Travel Magazine in Australia.

Across her academic and professional career, Pamela has also delivered strategies for luxury brands such as Chivas Regal, Nicholas Simons, G.H Bass & Co and Moss Bros, contributing significantly to their brand presence. In a brief but impactful internship at Integritas Financial Planners, her intern role allowed her to delve into the financial domain, contributing to her well-rounded analytical skill set that she applies at Connections Luxury.

Born in Manila, Philippines, Pamela true to her Filipino heritage is bilingual in Tagalog and English. Her passion for global travel took root in her upbringing in South-East Asia and deepened during her early university years. This passion led her to live in Taiwan for six months as part of an exchange programme while also gaining valuable insights into European business challenges during a summer school in Belgium.

Buyer Executive

Sergio works as a Buyer Executive at Connections Luxury, where his main responsibility is to recruit and engage with global luxury buyers who align well with the Connections Way. He has a deep passion for the events and luxury travel industry, enjoying the opportunity to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds worldwide.

Originally from Sicily, Italy, Sergio was eager to enhance his English skills. To achieve this, he relocated to London in 2012 during the Olympic Games. This move marked the start of a challenging yet rewarding professional journey. He progressed from a Kitchen Porter to a Head Waiter in renowned 5-star establishments, including the prestigious Seabourn Cruise Line. Prior to joining Connections Luxury, he was part of the Global Sales Team at Melia Hotels International.

Another of Sergio's great passions is cooking. This interest originated from his experiments with creating dishes using leftover ingredients, driven by a desire to minimize food waste.

Buyer Manager

A keen traveller, Despina has had adventures across the world, with her favourite place being the Danum Valley in Borneo where she shared moments with wild orangutans – her beloved companions of the jungle. Before returning to her hometown of London, she embraced the vibrant culture of Córdoba in Southern Spain.

In both her personal and professional life, Despina is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and equity to create a positive impact on the world. With a talent for cultivating meaningful relationships with high-value individuals, she brings a wealth of expertise from the non-profit sector to Connections Luxury.

As a travel enthusiast and events professional, she is eager to showcase the Connections Way of doing business, so you can uncover incredible opportunities and share once in a lifetime experiences. Join her in exploring new horizons and creating lasting memories.

Buyer Manager

With a decade of experience in the luxury travel sector, Katie brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her role as Buyer Manager at Connections Luxury.

Originally from Wales, Katie made the leap to London in 2017 before settling in the picturesque South of England. Her adventurous spirit previously took her further afield, when she embarked on a solo journey to Australia for two years. It was during this time that Katie discovered her love for solo travel.

Through her travels she has seen remarkable destinations across the globe, fuelling her passion for exploration and discovery. From the vast plains of Africa to the bustling streets of vibrant cities, Katie finds joy in experiencing diverse cultures and landscapes.

Katie relishes in staying active and indulging in culinary delights. Whether she's trekking through nature or savouring exotic cuisines, Katie approaches each adventure with boundless enthusiasm and an unwavering zest for life.

Events Executive

Born in the UK and raised in Hong Kong, Haylie's approach to event planning is deeply rooted in her design background. Utilizing textiles and working by hand, her work aimed to connect communities through interactive and participatory design. Her practice heavily explored the relationship between people and places. This unique perspective has been instrumental in her position in the events industry, as she truly believes all events should fundamentally bring people together.

As an Events Executive, her role supports the entire event process, from preparing event materials, to managing events when onsite, to post event feedback analysis, she is innovative by nature and is always looking for the next best way to do things.

Prior to joining connections, Haylie worked at BCD Meetings and Events as a Venue Consultant, where she sourced for events up to 3,000 delegates on a global scale - in the likes of Barcelona, Miami, Sydney, Thailand, and Vancouver. She has also coordinated live events, executing music events in places such as Roundhouse and Boomtown, with events reaching over 45k attendees. Her strong vision, in addition to her artistic flair for details, ensures every event is a memorable experience for attendees.

Between organising events, Haylie enjoys handmaking rugs, travelling, and reading.

Sales Coordinator

Anthea provides support to the sales and partnerships team, coordinating the end-to-end process of building new and existing relationships within Connections. She brings her diverse background and spirited nature in delivering engaging experiences that encourage human connection and foster community-building.

Born and raised in Cebu, Philippines, she’s always been immersed in the hospitality and tourism sector, having grown up going to different hotels and constantly meeting friends from multicultural backgrounds. She then moved to Australia for university, where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Media Communications. Not stopping there, she honed her knowledge with a Masters in Arts and Cultural Management, as she always held a passion for the arts and culture.

Her journey took her from working in a charming local inn in the picturesque Cotswolds to the bustling heart of London, where along the way earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Event Management, volunteered and worked for live events (concerts, theatre & exhibitions) and most recently, a project coordinator for a creative brand experience agency specialising in production.

Beyond the professional realm, she is a film fanatic and food enthusiast. Fluent in English, Cebuano and basic Tagalog and French, her curiosity, drive and warm character are qualities that define her approach to every endeavour.