Graeme Watson
Founding member · Seat 001 · FounderFounder · Kusa Connect
Travel representative · Swansea, United Kingdom · also South Africa · On RepBud since 2026
About
I help international tourism businesses connect with the UK travel trade — through representation, marketing, and now technology built specifically for the industry. Kusa Connect is my UK-based representation and marketing company, providing bespoke sales representation to lodges, hotels, game reserves, and experience providers across Africa and beyond. We help properties build meaningful relationships with UK and European tour operators, travel agents, and product managers — turning awareness into bookings. Charnette Labs is the technology side. After 15+ years in travel sales, I kept hitting the same problem: the tools available to our industry were either generic or outdated. So I started building. Charnette Labs creates websites, mobile apps, push notification systems, and managed hosting exclusively for tourism businesses — representation companies, PR & Media, hotels, luxury safari lodges, DMCs, tour operators, tourist boards, associations and more. We speak the language because we’ve lived in the world. RepBud, built under Charnette Labs, is an intelligent sales companion app for client-facing travel industry professionals — on iOS, Android and the web. It also connects reps with tour operators and agents through RepBuddies, and helps properties seeking representation get discovered through RepBud Ready. I’ve lived and worked across the UK, South Africa, and the USA, visited 65+ countries, and hold a BA in Media and Communications. I’ve served on the Board of Directors of SATSA and as Chapter Chair of the KZN Chapter, giving me deep industry connections across southern and east Africa. Whether you need a rep in the UK market, a website that loads on a satellite connection in the bush, or an app that works the way the travel trade actually does — let’s talk.
Businesses I represent
6 businesses, 10 properties
Where I work
Businesses by country
- Kenya3
- South Africa2
- Tanzania1
Properties by type
- Camp3
- Lodge3
- Hotel2
- Reserve1
- Lodge / camp1
Properties by destination
Destinations
Markets I sell into
Experience
Founder
Charnette Labs
Apr 2026 – present
Charnette Labs builds technology for the tourism industry — websites, mobile apps, push notification systems, and managed hosting for representation companies, PR & Media, hotels, luxury safari lodges, tour operators, DMCs, game reserves, tourists boards,
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associations and more. Founded from nearly two decades in luxury travel sales, so every project starts with industry fluency. Also the creator of RepBud, an intelligent sales companion app for client-facing travel industry professionals, launched on iOS, Android and web.
Founder
RepBud
Apr 2026 – present
Founder of RepBud — the intelligent sales companion and social platform for the travel trade. Helping you with productivity while being able to build lasting connections. RepBud exists because this industry runs on relationships, not pipelines. I have spent
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nearly 20 years working in the international tourism industry, and I recently built the tool I wished existed: a CRM that speaks our language, understands our workflows, and makes the whole distribution channel smarter. For reps: log interactions by text, voice or uploading handwritten meeting notes and letting RepBud transcribe them and create action items for you. Forward emails and WhatsApps, copy and paste messages from other platforms as well. Generate client reports, prep for trade shows, manage contacts and companies, scan business cards, and many more other features. For product managers, consultants, travel agents and travel advisors: A RepBuddies profile give you a free listing that keeps your contact and company information current so that sales reps can keep in touch and make sure you are aware of trade dinner, lunches, events, fams and shows. All fully opt in and controlled by you as to who you connect with. For properties and experiences: RepBud Ready gives you a free presence on the platform — share your story, and connect with the reps who could help you showcase your product in your source markets. The more the trade shares accurate information, the better the ecosystem works for everyone. A rising tide raises all the ships. Free to try · repbud.app
Founder and Director
Kusa Connect
Nov 2021 – present · United Kingdom
Kusa Connect offers UK based tourism representation and marketing services to travel and tourism businesses around the world, who are looking at having an advantage in the UK and European markets.
Founder and Director
Kusa Africa Travel Services
Sept 2020 – Nov 2021 · South Africa
Kusa Africa Travel Services is a Destination Management Company (DMC) for Southern and East Africa. uKusa is a local Southern African word meaning a new dawn, or new beginning. Our company is symbolic of this in the travel industry, and gives us an
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opportunity to rise again following the global events of 2020 and 2021.
Director
SATSA
Jul 2017 – Aug 2021
Key Account Sales Manager - USA, UK, and Ireland
Thompsons Africa - Inbound Tour Operator
Jun 2013 – Jul 2020 · Durban Area, South Africa
Key Account Sales Manager / Business Development / Market Manager for the USA, UK, and Ireland. I managed approximately $15 million worth of accounts across the USA, UK and Ireland. I was responsible for growing sales within my market, retaining and growing
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existing customers, focusing on new customers, increasing brand awareness, and delivering customer satisfaction. I was actively involved in setting sales targets, market strategies and travel budgets. I worked on negotiations for multi-million rand tenders, global ground handling service agreements, setting and adjusting override targets and allocating budgeted funds to different marketing activations with our global partners. I planned and undertook international sales trips, having multiple meetings per day where necessary. Decision making on proposals and itineraries that feature in the international brochures and websites of customers. Designed and hosted educational trips in Southern Africa. Represented Thompsons Africa at international trade shows such as WTM in London, INDABA in Durban and USTOA in the USA.
Sales Executive - Africa Destination Specialist and Assistant Product Manager for River Cruises
SITA World Tours
Mar 2012 – May 2013 · Greater Los Angeles Area
In this role I created FIT itineraries for clients by using my personal experience of having grown up in South Africa. I used my expert knowledge of the destination to suggest unique destinations and activities within Africa to enhance the travelers experience
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of the region. Having qualified as a Google Certified Partner, I also assisted the Marketing Department with Google Adwords campaigns to help direct traffic to the company website. I managed all financial aspects of bookings, from budgeting for mark ups and ensuring profitable gross margins. I costed and created itineraries and specials for the website, and was overseeing the product development and implementation of the European products. I represented SITA at functions and conferences nationwide, went out on national sales calls to agents, and spoke at educational seminars.
Inside Sales - Africa and Indian Ocean Islands Specialist
Cox & Kings, The Americas
Jul 2011 – Mar 2012 · Greater Los Angeles Area
In this role, coming from South Africa made it perfect for me to advise clients and agents in the USA on the best possible itinerary for their trip. I was involved in the design, costing, sales, bookings, and operations management for travel programs including
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those that were customized to meet client requirements. I worked with the Marketing Department with Search Engine Optimisation, Online Marketing and Social Networking. I designed customized itineraries in consultation with agent or direct client taking the requirements of the client into consideration, giving expert advice and guidance. I confirmed required services with all ground handlers and suppliers. I communicated with client/agent to ensure that all necessary information had been obtained so that booking could proceed. I managed all financial aspects of bookings, coordinating with Accounting for accounts payable, accounts receivable, and any cancellations or refunds. I met with suppliers, as well as clients or agents who came in to the office to discuss their requirements. I ensured the smooth running of any booking along with pre-departure and post-trip service to agents and/or clients.
Tour Guide
Red Line Tours
May 2011 – Jul 2011 · Hollywood, CA
Full time Tour Guide for walking tours along Hollywood Boulevard. I continued on a part time basis up until 2012.
Owner, Business Development Manager, Director of Sales & Marketing
GMW Travel
May 2008 – Jun 2011 · London, United Kingdom
Franchise Owner responsible for all sales and marketing, public relations, administration and reservations, and budget forecasting for my own travel business promoting South Africa and other long haul destinations. Finalist in the South African Tourism
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board's Ubuntu Awards, 2008 Travel Writer, SA Promo Magazine Public relations by representing my business on various worldwide educational trips offered by tourism boards, as well as attending many different tourism board promotional evenings in and around London. My company and myself have been featured in articles in Travel Trade Gazette as well as Travel Weekly, particularly for my efforts in driving tourism to South Africa for the World Cup in 2010. Finalist in Travel Trade Gazette's Face Of Travel, 2009 Selected as one of TravelUni's Rising Stars for 2009. Travel Writer, Travel Trade Gazette, Israel, 2009
Accounts Payable Coordinator
Pension Corporation
Mar 2008 – Feb 2009 · London, United Kingdom
Responsible for running the entire accounts payable function and the integration of the documentation and payment procedures from a Excel spreadsheet system into an Oracle database system and all subsequent reporting. Managing all payments that the company
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made through the Oracle system, and deciding when the payments go out. Testing the new IT systems and databases, ensuring all problems are reported and working closely with IT until all bugs in the system were corrected. Responsible for all stages of the accounts payable process: Setting up new suppliers, coding of invoices to correct cost centres and General Ledger codes in accordance with the Chart Of Accounts. Obtaining correct authorizations for the services that have been invoiced, and preparing the weekly payment runs, firstly ensuring there is a sufficient amount of cash in the required bank account. Preparing the payment batches and obtaining correct authorization and uploading the batch to internet banking, or direct payments with the SG Hambros Private Bank in Guernsey. Final payment of the batch and ensuring all remittances are sent to the suppliers. Month end profit and loss commentaries Foreign Currency Payments Urgent same day CHAPS payments as required. Cash management in the form of weekly cash balances reporting and transferring funds between accounts, also ensuring sufficient funds in the salary account as per requests from Human Resources.
Accounts Payable Coordinator
Financial Risk Management
May 2007 – Mar 2008 · London, United Kingdom
Using CODA and Sage database Assistance in Management Account Preparation especially relating to commentaries on certain areas of the P&L Processing new invoices, coding to correct General Ledger codes, obtaining authorisation from department heads, in
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conjunction with Purchase Order log Creating new supplier accounts Liaising directly with suppliers to resolve outstanding issues Preparing weekly BACS runs, making payments via Lloydslink in conjunction with current bank mandate signatory agreements Preparing CHAPS payments as needed Prepayment calculations on invoices Monthly Aged Creditors reports, giving detailed explanations on each supplier account Close liaison with Finance team to ensure in order that Accruals, Prepayments and Fixed Asset processes run as efficiently as possible Intercompany recharges in multiple currencies Month / Year end journals as required Monthly bank reconciliation in multiple currencies, matching foreign currencies to GBP, reconciling any intercompany payments as well as standard daily transactions Awareness of availability of cash and preparing currency advances for employees travelling abroad
Accounts Assistant
Thomson Scientific
Feb 2007 – May 2007 · London, United Kingdom
Daily analysis of management expense claims and resolving queries with the managers. Reconciling supporting documentation for claims Reconciliation of supplier statements with bank statements Contacting suppliers to resolve outstanding invoice issues and
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working closely and directly with the supplier to ensure any queries are resolved and following the invoices through until final payment. Updating Oracle and Image Silo database daily Confirming Invoice status and processing for weekly payments Resolving supplier queries both on the phone and in person Updating late and delayed payments onto the ledger. Daily matching and batching invoices to ensure prompt payments Ensuring the companies procedures are SOX compliant
Owner
GMW Productions
May 2003 – Feb 2007 · Durban Area, South Africa
Self employed - own business Responsible for all marketing and distribution of advertisements Direct contact with clients, both over the phone and in person Daily updates of new client database on Excel Daily updates of petty cash journal Daily purchasing of
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new stock, coding and capturing of supplier invoices Ensuring all invoices were coded to the correct cost centre based on supplier type Weekly payments of supplier invoices, using internet banking as well as a cheque run Weekly analysis of budget costs against actual spends Monthly profit and loss reports Year end taxation reports
Accounts Assistant
Abbey National Treasury Services
Mar 2002 – May 2003 · London, United Kingdom
Daily coding and capturing of supplier invoices on the AGRESSO system Daily reconciliation of supplier statements with invoices on the company system, and liaising directly with the credit controllers of the suppliers in order to ensure that all outstanding
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invoices have been received. Ensuring all new invoices were correctly authorised by internal managers Responsible for ensuring that all due invoices were paid on a weekly basis by cheque and that all cheques were correctly signed by all authorised signatories Ensuring that all paid invoices were correctly stored and liaising with suppliers to ensure that all past invoices were in the companies possession for audit purposes Reconciliation of finance database with Human Resources database and ensuring all staff were correctly allocated according to their cost centre Prepare weekly analysis of budget costs against actual spends. To extract information from Agresso and to manipulate for head of finance reports Prepare monthly creditor payment days reports Analysis of staff expense claims forms to reduce unnecessary costs to the company
Accounts Assistant
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Jul 2001 – Oct 2001 · London, United Kingdom
Responsible for ensuring that the correct invoices were paid to the correct supplier by performing checks that the invoices had been approved and then documenting the correct supplier number and invoice number and ensuring that the invoices were paid for the weekly cheque run.
Accounts Assistant
QVC - The Shopping Channel
Mar 2001 – Jul 2001 · London, United Kingdom
Responsible for ensuring that the correct invoices were paid to the correct supplier by performing checks that the invoices had been approved and then documenting the correct supplier number and invoice number and ensuring that the invoices were paid for the weekly cheque run.
Quality Controller
Canary Riverside
May 2000 – Nov 2000 · London, United Kingdom
Responsible for brand new luxury apartments in Canary Wharf and ensuring that they were built to the purchasers satisfaction; liaising directly with the purchasers and then conveying their wishes onto the builders and officiating over the builders to ensure
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that the work was carried out effectively; handing over the flats to the purchasers or their representatives and explaining how the apartments function; representing the company at social functions including restaurant openings.
Accounts Assistant
Ernst & Young
Feb 2000 – Apr 2000 · London, United Kingdom
Responsible for the partner accounts; ensuring partners pension and car payments were made; paying partner payment requests; month end reconciliation; matching invoices to payment requests.
Entertainment Staff
MSC Royal Star
Jul 1999 – Dec 1999 · Kenya,Seychelles, Zanzibar, Madagascar, The Comores, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives
Entertainment staff. Daily entertainment activities with the passengers. Tour leader for ground excursions.
Skills
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Credentials
Languages
Awards
- Face of Travel, finalistTravel Trade Gazette2009
- Rising StarsTravelUni2009
- Ubuntu Awards, finalistSouth African Tourism2008
Certifications
- Google Data Analytics Professional CertificateGoogle2021
- Advanced Google AnalyticsGoogle2021
- Google Ads Certified PartnerGoogle2011
Associations
- SATSAMember; Director 2017–20212024 – present
- Institute of DirectorsMember2022 – present
Education
- Diploma, Los Angeles Travel AcademyUniversity of California, Los Angeles2010
- Bachelor of ArtsMedia and Communications1996 – 2002
- High School DiplomaNorthwood High School1991 – 1995
Get in touch
Working on something Graeme could help with? Send a note.
Send an enquiryOn RepBud, where the travel trade finds who represents what.