About Us
Classic Collection comprises a team of highly experienced marketing professionals with extensive
international contacts throughout the travel industry. The company began life as Classic Retreats,
which was launched in 1993. Since its inception, Classic Retreats has been responsible for the
international positioning and branding of many of Africa’s leading hotels and lodges and is now
recognised as one of the travel industry’s leading brands.
In 2004, as the client base began to grow, the company expanded to encompass Classic
Representation in order to provide sales and marketing solutions for independent hotels, lodges
and estates as well as the properties featured within the Classic Retreats portfolio. In 2010, the
company experienced another exciting period of growth and launched Classic Collection,
providing international sales, marketing and public relations services for a ‘hand picked’ portfolio
of privately owned safari lodges, boutique retreats, country hideaways and luxurious hotels in
Southern and East Africa and the Indian Ocean. Classic Collection consists of the following
divisions: Classic Representation, Classic Vision, Classic Communications & Classic Focus.
Suzanne Bayly-Coupe has been involved with the marketing of luxury hotels and safari lodges since 1996 when she launched Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve. She has an undergraduate degree in International Politics and Economics and a postgraduate degree in Marketing. Her strengths are in generating new business, and in identifying international opportunities for luxury brands and unique experience providers. Suzanne heads up the Edinburgh office and is responsible for the overall management of Classic Collection. She is the account manager for all Classic Representation clients and undertakes sales and marketing in the UK and Europe with key agents and media.
Alicia Brett joined Classic Collection after working as a Marketing & PR Assistant for a river cruise company. Alicia has an undergraduate degree in Events Management and loves to travel in her spare time. Alicia is responsible for developing and managing all e-communication for the company and the clients. This includes maintenance of the Classic Collection website and the development of newsletters and e-campaigns. She is proactively involved in office based marketing and assists Suzanne in the overall management of the accounts in the Classic Representation portfolio and the coordination of sales and marketing activities in the UK and Europe.
Katie Dalrymple-Hamilton joined Classic Collection after spending a year in Zambia working for The Bushcamp Company in the South Luangwa National Park. Previous to that, Katie spent 3 and a half years in London working as a consultant for a real estate recruitment company. Katie has a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from Northumbria University. Based in the Edinburgh office, Katie is responsible for the management of Classic Representation’s client accounts. She attends the international trade shows as well as undertaking sales and marketing in the UK and Europe with key agents.
Saskia Brown heads up Classic Vision from the Cape Town office. Classic Vision is our bespoke marketing services division which offers tailor-made marketing solutions for individual clients. Prior to that she was the marketing manager at Cape Grace in Cape Town for 6 years. Saskia has a Business Commerce degree in Tourism Management, an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in French and a masters degree in Business Administration. She has a passion for travel and languages and also assists with the management of new clients.
Natasha Amos joined Classic Collection having spent 6 years in London working in Travel and Luxury Lifestyle PR both agency side - for clients such as Abercrombie & Kent, Jumeirah, Mustique Island and Raffles Hotels - and in-house for One & Only Resorts. Natasha has an undergraduate degree in European Business and an Honours Degree in Communications. Natasha is based in the Edinburgh office and is responsible for all media and PR activity for Classic Communication clients. Natasha currently manages a small portfolio of clients in Africa and is pro-actively seeking new clients in the UK, Europe and Africa.
Franck Deroche hails from France and has lived in South Africa for 5 years. From a very young age he has had a passion for travel which has taken him to exotic destinations around the world. Franck has a masters degree in Human Geography and Social Development, specialising in Responsible Tourism and over the years he has developed excellent media and embassy contacts. Franck manages Classic Focus from the Johannesburg office since September 2009. Franck undertakes sales and product training with inbound agents, organises agent workshops and oversees corporate sales within South Africa.