When you join Not Just Travel, you’re not just getting access to a business opportunity. You’re getting something even more valuable – a personal Business Development Manager (BDM) who’s by your side from day one, helping you build and grow your dream travel business.
And today, we’re excited to introduce one of our newest BDMs: Chris Winpenny. He’s just joined the team, and trust us — you’re going to want him in your corner.
Chris is based in Aberdeen, which might just make him our most northerly team member. In fact, we say he’s our Northern star – quite literally.
His home is surrounded by incredible natural beauty — we’re talking Northern Lights, orca sightings off the coast, and stunning wildlife. As he puts it, “when it’s cold, it’s very cold,” but when it’s beautiful — it’s unforgettable.
Chris comes with some serious travel credentials.
He started his career in travel 17 years ago working for First Choice. Then before joining us, he spent eight years at Kuoni, one of the most respected names in luxury travel.
Chris managed its Aberdeen retail store and worked across departments — from events and marketing to mentoring and even leading a virtual rebooking team during the chaos of Covid.
He’s also no stranger to events, whether it’s intimate VIP evenings talking about the Maldives and Rocky Mountaineer or cruise showcases for curious first-timers. Chris has packed out stores, filled hotel conference rooms, and knows how to turn a casual chat into a customer for life.
In his own words:
“I’ve been in travel for 17 years, and I just love helping people fall in love with travel. Whether it’s organising events, mentoring team members, or simply sharing destination knowledge — that’s where I thrive.”
Why Chris chose Not Just Travel
When redundancy hit and Chris, 38, started looking for the next step, it didn’t take long for Not Just Travel to stand out.
“I came across the role on LinkedIn, and it just ticked every box. Helping people start their own travel business, mentoring them, sharing everything I’ve learned — I knew instantly it was right for me.”
Chris also noticed how much the NJT brand has grown:
“A decade ago, you barely heard of Not Just Travel — now you see it everywhere. It’s a company on the rise, and I’m excited to be part of the journey.”
“Paul Harrison and Steve Witt are co-founders who are future-focused. They don’t wait around for the next travel trend, but use technology and networks to drive the business forward in pioneering ways. They are among the most advanced companies I’ve seen.”
Your business buddy from day one
If you’re new to the travel industry (and 98 per cent of our franchisees are), the idea of launching your own business can feel a little daunting. That’s where someone like Chris steps in.
As your BDM, he’ll help you:
- Get confident fast, even if you’ve never worked in travel before
- Set short and long-term goals that make sense for you
- Create clever ways to attract customers, from events to social media
- Stay motivated, focused — and yes, even have fun along the way
And because of his time at Kuoni, you’re learning from someone who’s worked in high-end, high-touch, luxury travel — which is exactly where many of our consultants want to be.
“I can’t wait to start getting to know the franchise holders that I’ll be looking after, finding out what brought them into the industry, what their background was, and seeing what development they would like and how I can help them.”
A Bit More About Chris…
- Age: 38
- Lives with: His partner of 10 years and two very spoilt cocker spaniels, Bailey & Milo
- Just booked: A cruise to Italy and Greece in 2026 to celebrate his 10-year wedding anniversary
- Hidden talent: Creating event buzz that gets people booking (and talking)
Ready to meet him in person?
Chris is already jumping into the NJT community — he’s heading to his first coffee morning in Edinburgh this week to meet franchisees and other team members and to start building connections.
If you join us, you can attend these coffee mornings too. You could also get matched with a BDM like Chris — someone who’s walked the walk, and now wants to walk alongside you.
