Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked for IOW Tours, a thriving tourism company on the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced the business into administration, and I was briefly employed by the administrators to help wind down operations. In this role, I assisted with the closure of the business, ensuring all legal and operational processes were properly executed and managing the dissolution of assets.
Following the company’s closure, a group of former IOW Tours employees made the decision to relaunch the business — Dubbed IOW Tours 2.0. After the brand name and customer database were acquired, I was approached to join the rebuilding team. The new office space was secured on the ground floor of an old hotel building in the Seaside town of Shanklin, that also had to close its doors due to the pandemic.
While the office was secured before my involvement, my role focused on rebuilding the company’s ICT infrastructure, including setting up a new telephone system, computer workstations, and network. The goal was to have everything in place for smooth operations once restrictions were lifted and the business could resume.
At this stage, we had yet to reconnect with customers or begin actively promoting the business. Much of the work was still in progress, and we were preparing for future operations when restrictions were lifted.
In February 2021, I was offered a position at the Isle of Wight Council, which required me to make a difficult decision. The tourism industry was still uncertain, particularly in terms of group travel and large events, which were key aspects of IOW Tours’ operations. Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of travel, I opted for the stability and security of a local government role.
Even after my departure, I remained in close contact with the team, offering support and advice as they continued to navigate the political and operational challenges brought on by the pandemic. In the months that followed, IOW Tours 2.0 evolved into IOW Tours 3.0, as unforeseen legal and operational challenges forced the team to vacate the newly acquired office space.
In 2022, IOW Tours dubbed 3.0 successfully reopened its doors and resumed hosting events and reunions for the public.