Our team
The Discerning Collection is a specialist privately owned, independent travel company operator offering ‘boutique’, hand-picked and personally validated holidays. Typically this would consist of smaller boutique hotels, villas with private pools, riads and traditional, ethnic hotels for the more discerning guest.
Our vision
To build the UK’s most successful boutique tour operation, with the highest levels of customer retention, advocacy and referrals.
We pride ourselves on our service and although all specialist travel companies will wax lyrical about this all important part of the holiday, very few actually provide a level of service that really lives up to the promise. We want to be seen as an operator that genuinely cares for our guests as opposed to one that cares more about chasing the ‘bottom line’.
Chris Mottershead
Managing Director
With over 30 years in the travel industry, Chris has pretty much done it all – from steering some of the biggest travel brands to uncovering the world’s best-kept secrets. Now, he brings that rare mix of deep experience, hands-on destination knowledge, and genuine excitement for bespoke travel to the Discerning Collection family.
He’s not just passionate about where you go — he’s passionate about how you get there, what you eat, who welcomes you at the door, and which sunset spot you’ll remember forever. Chris knows our destinations inside out (yes, he has a favourite villa in Kalkan) and is always on the lookout for something special you won’t find in a brochure.
Now proudly serving as President of the Institute of Travel and Tourism, Chris is as respected in the industry as he is approachable — with a strong focus on sustainability, thoughtful innovation, and those small, magical details that turn good trips into unforgettable ones.
He’s thrilled to be working alongside Viv and the brilliant Discerning team, helping guide the brand into its next chapter with heart, vision, and of course… plenty of stamps in the passport.
Nick & Viv Wrightman
Nick and Viv Wrightman began their careers in the travel industry and have spent a lifetime immersed in it. Nick started as a graduate trainee at Thomson Holidays, while Viv began her journey at the much-loved specialist, Sunmed Holidays.
Their early years provided invaluable training and experience, which paved the way for their next chapter, founding and running the highly regarded Tapestry Holidays. They later launched what they fondly describe as their “perfectly formed” boutique venture: the Discerning Collection.
Today, Nick leads the Discerning Collection as Managing Director, while Viv continues to oversee operations as Operations Director. Together, they remain closely involved in the business they founded, bringing decades of travel industry experience and a very personal approach to the holidays we create.
Holly Matthews
Holly joined us in March 2022, her career in the travel industry began shortly after completing her degree at Exeter University. Holly’s first role was with the Travel Team at Mr and Mrs Smith selling a wide variety of locations globally, she then went onto join the team at Exclusive Escapes working in a reservations capacity creating bespoke and tailor made itineraries. Holly has travelled extensively in Turkey and lives between the Turkish riviera and the UK and it probably comes as no surprise that her favourite destination is Turkey.
Following many years in sales which she absolutely loves, Holly has now branched into the product and contracting area of the business as well as website content and design. Holly knows Turkey like the back of her hand so whether you are seeking a quick get away in Istanbul, a luxury gulet charter, momentous villa stay or tailor made journey she can definitely help and her passion is infectious.
Lily Mottershead
Operations & Admin Manager
Lily is the newest addition to our team, bringing with her a strong background in administration and organisation. Since graduating from university, Lily has honed her skills in coordinating projects and supporting busy teams – experience that’s already proving invaluable in her new role. While she’s new to the travel industry, her enthusiasm and willingness to learn are helping her hit the ground running.
Beata Kulesza
Beata is an integral part of the sales team and started with Tapestry Holidays in 2003 and knows our product intimately, she is renowned within the team for remembering exactly which guest staying in which room and when – which we think is quite remarkable! A lot of our guests have booked their holidays with Beata for many years and know her as their loyal and personal travel advisor and more importantly her friend.
Beata hails from Warsaw in Poland and is still amazed as to how many of our guests mis-pronounce her name. Every day she is constantly spelling out her name aloud… B E A T A!
Laura Erdogan
Laura has lived in Turkey for over 20 years, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have her as part of our team. Originally from a publishing background, she made the move to Turkey to follow her passion for travel and has since built extensive experience across the industry, working with tour operators in both Turkey and Cape Verde, with a strong focus on customer relations.
Laura has been with us for over 10 years and now works across both Discerning Collection and our sister company, The Bridge Collection, where she plays a key role within our reservations team, with a particular focus on bridge holiday bookings.
Alongside reservations, Laura also supports our wider operations, assisting with logistics and administration to ensure each booking runs smoothly from start to finish. Having previously worked in a customer-facing, in-resort role, she brings valuable first-hand knowledge of the destinations we offer, now applied to shaping and supporting our guests’ holidays ahead of departure.
Mowgli
Head of Workplace Wellbeing
Mowgli may not answer emails, but he plays an essential role in the Discerning Collection team as our much-loved Head of Workplace Wellbeing.
Our nearly 9-year-old Australian Labradoodle, Mowgli has been part of the office longer than almost anyone else (with the possible exception of Viv!). As our original wellness officer, he’s a calm and comforting presence who takes his role as chief morale booster very seriously – particularly when snacks or belly rubs are involved.
Whether snoozing in a sunny spot, patrolling the office for treats or making an unscheduled appearance in a meeting, Mowgli is very much part of daily life at the Discerning Collection.
Always composed in a crisis and never one to talk back, he has a rather wonderful knack for knowing when someone needs a moment away from their screen.
With his gentle nature, quiet loyalty and unwavering commitment to workplace wellbeing – including a rigorously observed nap schedule -Mowgli is a cherished four-legged member of the team.
