Behind every seamless conference, corporate stay, and last-minute booking is a professional who thrives on pace, precision, and people skills. Charlotte Bowyer, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Holiday Inn London Gatwick Airport, is one such expert. We spoke with Charlotte about the realities of her role, the challenges
of working in one of the UK’s busiest airport locations, and what it takes to deliver consistently exceptional guest experiences while driving business success. Read on to find out about a day in the Life of Charlotte.
How long have you worked at the hotel?
I’ve worked at the Holiday Inn London Gatwick Airport for just over a year, and I’ve been with Valor Hospitality, the hotel’s management company, for over two years.
What does your job involve?
As Sales and Marketing Manager at a busy airport hotel, my role is varied – no two days are the same! I’m a busy bee, as our hotel has 216 bedrooms and 11 meeting rooms. I love to support our airlines with crew accommodation, help local and national clients with their business travel, and get creative with our meeting and event spaces.
Training and conference business is a big focus for me for 2026, as we have a purpose‑built conference area with great, flexible spaces.
What’s a challenging part of your job?
Coming up with passwords… just kidding! The real challenge of my job is to stay competitive with rates for corporate, meeting and event clients while being fast and accurate with proposals.
Gatwick is a busy market, so we must stand out, stay responsive, and deliver consistently. To continue the excellent relationships that we have with our clients and agents for future work with central and internal teams, we must turn enquiries into bookings, bookings into happy guests, and happy guests into repeat business.
I also like to make sure that my Operations Manager gets a daily dose of panic with the big promises I’ve made… but somehow, he always makes it happen, keeps everyone happy, and probably deserves a medal.
What’s the best part of your job? And least favourite?
I love the fast-paced environment of an airport hotel and the challenge of a highly competitive market.
Hunting for new business and building strong relationships keeps me energised. The worst part… honestly, there isn’t one!
What’s been the best advice given to you?
You can’t win it all, but when you do, make sure you celebrate those wins! And never underestimate the power of relationships.
They’re worth more than the price of the room or meeting space. Clients want to know they can trust you, call you about the good… and the occasional hiccup. Without a relationship, there’s no loyalty, and without loyalty, there’s no repeat business.
Do you have a favourite meeting room and why?
I’d say the Concorde Suite is our showstopper! It holds up to 220 delegates, floods with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows and can be split into three rooms if you need some flexibility. With built-in projectors and screens, so that everyone can see the slides.
What’s been the most memorable event held at your venue?
We recently hosted a large charity awards ceremony in the Concorde Suite. The day kicked off with a meeting for 150 delegates, and then, thanks to our amazing team, the room was completely transformed in no time. In a quick turnaround, the setup went from a functional meeting layout to an elegant banquet for 150 guests, ready for a formal dinner and awards ceremony. It was a perfect example of how our team can handle fast-paced, high-pressure events while keeping everything seamless and impressive!
What can a delegate do in their downtime?
We have a brand-new mini gym that’s complimentary for guests, perfect for killing some time! If you prefer the outdoors, there are lovely riverside walks right on our doorstep, or you can head into Horley town centre, just a quick bus ride or a 25-minute stroll. While you’re there, you can catch a show at the Archway Theatre, a small independent theatre or explore independent shops and cafes, or you can jump on the Gatwick Express and be in London in 40 minutes and explore what London has to offer!
What do you do in your down time?
Between working full-time and juggling two young children, dogs, horses, and chickens, my home life is even busier than my work life! I basically run a small zoo and a circus at the same time!
What’s your favourite dish on the menu?
Chicken Caesar Wrap! When meetings run over lunch time, our chef whips these up, and they hit the spot every time. It helps that our head chef is brilliant, clearly, a hero in more ways than one!
What are the catering options for delegates?
We have an amazing working lunch menu that gets compliments daily! It can be tailored to suit delegates’ requirements. Our buffet usually includes a variety of salads, mains, sides, and desserts, so there’s something
for everyone, or, if preferred, a lighter sandwich working lunch.
Why should an event organiser pick Holiday Inn London Gatwick Airport for their next event?
We have 11 modern, recently renovated meeting suites with natural daylight and built-in projectors and screens, supported by an incredible front- and back-of-house team.
With 216 contemporary bedrooms, over 500 onsite parking spaces, and a 24/7 shuttle to Gatwick Airport, we’re the perfect choice for delegates commuting from London or flying in. Combine that with our excellent service and prime airport location, and we make every event seamless, professional, and memorable.
Book with Findmeaconference
If this sounds like the venue for you, get in touch with the Findmeaconference Reservations Team to book your next meeting or event.
01775 843410
enquires@findmeaconference.com