US-based tour operator Collette will re-join the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers as Fred Olsen Travel becomes its general sales agent on September 1.
Staff at Collette left their roles in March this year as the UK office was closed.
Ipswich-based Fred Olsen Travel will market and sell Collette’s global product, and a new UK brochure will be released in September.
Steve Williams, Fred Olsen Travel’s managing director, said trade support would be a key focus as his team rebuilds sales for Collette.
He said a field sales team of three is being recruited and three former members of the Collette reservations team will work from home in London, continuing with their product knowledge for consumers and the trade.
“Collette were members of Atas in the past, so it was natural to continue that relationship, as the main thrust is working with the trade – it will be business as usual,” he said.
“We listened closely to what Collette did in the past and will replicate that as the brand gets back to its former glory.
“People will sell more when they experience [the product] so we will have fam trips, and the on-the-road team will target agents who sold Collette before.
“We will produce a 180-page 2020 brochure in time for the Atas conference in Manchester (September 18-19) and will have four or five members of staff at the conference – including two from the on-the-road sales team.
“We are sales agents for other companies such as Star Clippers and Pandaw, so it is something in which we are experienced.”