We're looking to expand our team by 20 per cent before the year end, adding a new Head of Online Marketing and E-commerce, a new Head of Property Portfolio, two additional bookings staff and an additional member to our six-strong marketing team. The new appointments will bring the total number of new recruits in 2009 to 14, up from a team of just 12 in 2008.

Portfolio expanded by 50% in last 12 months

Over the past year, Blue Chip have expanded our portfolio of luxury self-catering cottages, rural retreats, classic and contemporary coastal houses and apartments by almost 50 per cent. The new Head of Property Portfolio will have the task of maintaining and exceeding this level of property acquisition across the region, focusing on Devon, Cornwall and Somerset as well as new areas in Dorset and the Cotswolds.

Industry leading e-commerce strategy

The new Head of Online Marketing will be responsible for leading on the further development of Blue Chip Vacations' e-commerce strategy, which has been a particular area of strength for the business. The new head will oversee a team of online marketers who have created industry-leading affiliate marketing campaigns, an expanding social media presence and an e-commerce strategy that continues to drive high levels of traffic to the website www.bluechipvacations.com and bookings for properties.

Looking to the future...

Commenting on the expansion plans, Alan Taylor, Managing Director of Blue Chip Vacations, said: "2009 has been a record year for the business; bookings rates are up almost two-thirds on the same period of last year, and the Staycation phenomena has led to promising forward bookings for 2010, which are up 70 per cent.

"Our ambitious growth plans demand that we have industry-leading practitioners at all levels of the business. We are looking for professionals who can bring innovative new ideas that will enable us to meet and exceed both the exacting demands of our customers and our ambitious plans to have the leading luxury self-catering business model in the country."

Candidates wishing to put themselves forward for the positions of Head of Online Marketing and E-commerce or Head of Property Portfolio should email: janet@bluechipvacations.com.