Staff at Solmar Villas have been paying tribute to their ‘passionate, funny and kind’ Managing Director Julie Blake, who died on Thursday 17 April, at the age of 47.
Julie had been owner and MD of the villa specialist for almost 20 years. The company was set up by her parents, John and Maria Tayler, 30 years ago.
At the beginning of 2024, Julie oversaw the sale of Solmar to Kuoni parent DERTOUR Group, joining other specialist brands in the portfolio including CV Villas, Carrier and Journey Latin America.
DERTOUR UK CEO Francis Torrilla will step in to run the business to ensure the smooth running of the organisation until a successor is appointed.
Francis said: “It is with a heavy heart and with great sadness that I shared news of Julie’s passing with our team at Solmar. I first met Julie in January 2023 when we started talking about her wish to sell the business.
“She was keen for Solmar to join the DERTOUR group of businesses and was welcomed by the senior team here, her passion for Solmar and in securing the future of her business by joining forces with other like-minded tour operators was foresight indeed. Her actions have secured the future of Solmar and we will ensure that her legacy lives on.
“We will not be able to replace Julie and we will not try to. We will however find the right person to lead Solmar on its next iteration as we continue to take the business to other markets and villa guests worldwide.
“Our thoughts and prayers are now with her immediate family, Chris, Rose and Poppy as well as her parents, John and Maria, as they navigate this difficult time.”
Solmar Head of Marketing Matt Bowley said: “It was never just about revenue for Julie. Her ethos was always about providing quality, really caring for our guests and going above and beyond to give people amazing villa holidays. A family person and mother herself – she just got it. She got the importance of a holiday, the decision making that goes into it, the peace of mind you get knowing support is just a phone call away when you need it. That’s what she built at Solmar – an amazing environment where everyone is as passionate as each other in giving our guests an amazing experience.”
Colleagues described Julie as a risk taker, recalling she always came up with creative, out-of-the-box ideas and ran with them. They said she was not afraid to fail and would always see the potential in any opportunity.
Other team members said she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty either. They recalled countless occasions where Julie would drop her plans to muck in and help out the team – whether it was assisting with sales enquiries during the busy peak season, helping concierge in the middle of summer or loading villas to Solmar’s new website during COVID, she was always a team player and an inspiration on how to lead by example.
Julie’s close friends added: “She had a unique style of leadership, she guided with grace, mentored with kindness and always brought a light to any room. Julie never let the overseas team feel forgotten. Her laughter was infectious and her sense of humour could lift the heaviest of hearts. She checked in regularly and always wanted to know how the team was doing. She truly cared.”
Hays Travel Vista Senior Faraway Sales Consultant Isla Stenning posted on the Travel Gossip Facebook group to say: “So sad to hear we have lost Julie Blake from Solmar, she was the boss I never got to meet, living in Cyprus and working for her was a pleasure.”
Isla told Travel Gossip: “I worked for Solmar in Cyprus in 2018. Julie was a lovely bubbly person. So sad.”
Travelosophers Travel Consultant Donna Grasby said: “I have so much respect for Julie. My time at Solmar was the best time of my life. I wanted to make her proud, she lived Solmar and she was an inspiration.
“I couldn’t believe she was so involved in everything that happened, the way she controlled the everyday running of that business made it what it is today and I’m proud to have been a part of her team. Best boss.
“Our hearts break these past couple of days for her family, for her friends and for us. I had the pleasure of being the family rep when they stayed at a villa in Menorca.
“I love that she sent me her friends’ bookings when I started my own business and I’ll be forever grateful for her guidance.”
