Ted Wake joined Kirker Holidays in 1987 and has been instrumental in helping to establish Kirker as the leading Short Break specialist offering tailor-made holidays.

Although Kirker has never had ambitions to become a large business, it is now one of the most respected companies providing independent holidays and cultural tours for discerning travellers. Ted has helped the company to focus on clients who understand that life is too short to risk making their own booking arrangements - Kirker customers prefer to plan ahead using the Kirker Concierge to include tickets or private guides to ensure that they are able to relax and enjoy cultural activities such as opera, concerts, museum exhibitions, and private excursions.

Ted has played a critical role in developing Kirker's unique marketing style and ensuring that the company has an outstanding reputation for providing all clients with excellent service. Ted is a well-known figure at travel industry events and regularly appears on judging panels for industry awards and consumer journalism awards; he also sits on a panel for AiTO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) and is often invited to speak at industry conferences including ABTA, AiTO and the SPAA. He has created a range of DVD conference presentations focussing on marketing and sales ideas using interviews and case studies from other industries including Nigella Lawson's favourite bespoke baker, Konditor; Broughton's Bentley, Boden and Berry Brothers and Rudd wine merchants.

In a former life, Ted worked in the US for a stockbroker in Boston, a boutique oil company in New Mexico and on a remote Seychelles island, Aldabra, studying blue green algae. Ted has a degree in Botany and Garden Design and continues to pursue his interest in these subjects whenever the opportunity arises. Apart from his passion for tailor-made short breaks for couples, Ted is a great advocate of family short breaks where he is able to encourage his 3 children to develop an interest in museums, music and food - naturally, all with the help of the Kirker Concierge and Kirker's expert local guides. Recent holidays with the Wakelets include Venice, Florence, Paris, Istanbul and Rome.