Blue Skies Lifestyle

Bournemouth-based luxury travel agency Blue Skies Lifestyle has strong roots in Bournemouth University, with a third of its current team made up of BU graduates across a range of disciplines.

Founded in 2005 by Bournemouth University alumni Andy and Fran Castle, Blue Skies Lifestyle is a family-run business specialising in high-end luxury ski chalet and summer villa rentals. Twenty years on, the company has grown into a multi-brand luxury travel group employing 24 people across Sales, Product, Marketing, IT, Accounts and Operations.

Andy Castle, Managing Director, studied Business Information Systems at Bournemouth University, while Fran Castle, also Managing Director, graduated from BU in Business Studies. They launched Ski In Luxury, the company’s first brand, in 2005, and then the complementing summer focused brand, Villas In Luxury. Following the success of these two brands, Ultimate Luxury Chalets and Alps In Luxury emerged to complete, and expand, the luxury travel group.

Today, Bournemouth University graduates play key roles throughout the business, from technical and marketing positions to product development and operations. Blue Skies Lifestyle continues to recruit locally and regularly supports BU students through placement years and graduate opportunities, helping to develop early careers within the luxury travel sector.

Blue Skies Lifestyle’s Bournemouth University class has been united by luxury travel, but it is their studies that have made them specialists in their field:

• Andy Castle, Director – Business Information Systems, 2002
• Fran Castle, Director – Business Studies, 2004
• Ellie Riches, Marketing Manager – Tourism Management, 2017
• Bradley Upfold, Product & Marketing Executive – Business Management with Marketing, 2021
• Thomas Fogarty, IT Systems Support – Social Work year (before working part time alongside studying Computer Science remote from Keele later)
• Daniel Rhoades, Product & Marketing Assistant – Business Management with Economics, 2025
• Steve Ollington, Web Design Night Course, late 90’s

Blue Skies Lifestyle

The company’s long-standing relationship with Bournemouth University reflects a shared commitment to practical learning, career development and nurturing local talent. Blue Skies Lifestyle is always open to hearing from new graduates of varying disciplines with the chance to provide them an exciting start to their career in the world of luxury travel. Their Ski In Luxury Careers Page is where aspiring students and graduates can begin their luxury travel journey at Blue Skies Lifestyle.