Loveholidays CEO: Travel is no longer discretionary, it’s an essential part of people’s lives

Donat Rétif, CEO of Loveholidays, has spent his career across various industries in six different countries. Before joining Loveholidays, he held positions such as CEO of Meteo Group, CEO of Truvo, and VP sales of the US West Region of Verizon. Rétif studied at UCLouvain (Belgium) and Université Laval (Canada), earning a Master's degree in Business Engineering. He is a sports enthusiast and enjoys trying out new activities that involve a ball. His motto is "Carpe diem."

Rétif's first job was a summer position placing plastic caps on syringes on an assembly line during his student years. His initial role in business was as the chief of staff to the CEO of a joint venture between France Telecom (now Orange) and Telecom Italia. He knew he wanted to build a career in travel while growing up in a simple background, aspiring to explore the world. After his telecommunications career, he found himself in travel.

When Rétif moved to London, he was drawn to its eclectic and diverse nature, with an abundance of cultural and sporting events. He would change its weather, but recognizes it as a motivator for people to plan holidays. He admires his wife, who is a painter, and his two sons. His biggest career perk is travel, his favorite book is "Black Water Lilies" by Michel Bussi, and he recommends "Brigadiers in Bloomberg Arcade" for lunch and the "Library Bar at the Ned" for drinks.

Rétif is optimistic about the year ahead, noting that travel has become an essential part of people's lives, driven by consumer spending reports and the desire for something to look forward to during cooler weather.