Our Team
ABTOI is led by an executive team of experienced travel industry professionals, all themselves members, with specialist expertise in actively selling Italy as a travel destination.
Molly McKean
Friends of Tuscany
Molly is the Managing Director of Friends of Tuscany, continuing the business her father founded in 1988. Having been raised partly in Tuscany, she transitioned from a career as a professional footballer to running the agency full-time. She focuses on deep-dive regional research to uncover authentic properties and off-the-beaten-track experiences. Molly prioritises genuine local relationships, personally knowing every owner and local expert to pass on first-hand insight and traditional hospitality to her guests.
Bharat Gadhoke
Exec Committee
Bharat is a travel veteran with 29 years of experience across operations and contracting. For over a decade, he has specialised in membership associations, representing a broad church of diverse companies. His expertise includes pan-stakeholder engagement, working closely with industry regulators to advocate for member interests. This background enables him to provide expert counsel, whether tackling complex regulatory challenges or offering practical advice, ensuring robust support for the unique needs of every member business.
Enrico Sorensini
Green Globe Railways
With 30 years of UK travel industry experience, Enrico Soresini is a global rail specialist and dedicated advocate for sustainable travel. Having held senior roles like Product Director, he now leads Green Globe Railways’ mission. Enrico leverages his deep expertise and industry connections to make seamless, eco-friendly rail journeys more accessible and efficient for the UK travel trade, championing the expansion of rail networks across Europe and beyond.
Sarah Mulas
New Sardinian Holidays
Sarah has experience in holiday lettings management through her role at New Sardinian Holidays, where she has been managing short-stay properties in Sardinia since 2000. She enjoys creating smooth, positive experiences for guests while supporting the day-to-day operations of properties. Her hands-on approach gives her a strong understanding of the holiday rental sector and the needs of both property owners and guests.
Helen Forbes
essentialitaly
Helen is a founder and Director of Essential Italy Limited – an independent villa agency specialising in private villas with pools in Tuscany, Umbria, Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia.
Helen has worked in travel all her working life; starting out in the front office of a large Heathrow hotel, she moved into Educational Travel with EF Education managing their UK, Irish and Maltese schools and finally set up Essential Italy with her brother, Ian, in 2001. Helen has been involved with ABTOI for several years offering her expertise and skills together with the rest of the Executive Committee ensuring ABTOI continues to meet the needs of the membership.
Lisa Leggate
To Tuscany, Director, Chair of ABTOI Executive Committee.
With over 20 years of experience at To Tuscany, Lisa brings a deep understanding of the travel industry and a passion for delivering exceptional villa holidays. Lisa is honoured to serve as Chair of the Executive Committee at ABTOI, representing such a respected organisation, and looking forward to supporting its continued growth, collaboration, and excellence within the travel sector.