ITC promotes Gary Bates as luxury operator restructures team

Gary Bates has been promoted to head of trade partnerships at ITC as part of a wider restructuring at the luxury operator.

He reports to Di Selby, who becomes business partnership director responsible for both ITC’s airline and trade partnerships. She was previously trade partnership director.  

Emily Rutter has been appointed head of product, leading the product team while continuing to oversee the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa.  

Bates, previously national trade partnership manager, will continaue to oversee trade partnership executive Haley Powell, covering the north, alongside Suzanne Warren, responsible for the southern region. 

The elevation of Bates reflects the importance placed on strengthening relationships across the travel trade as the brand “refines its product to the utmost luxury level”, the company noted.

Managing director Lisa Smith said: “Luxury travel has never before offered more choice, but luxury has never been about offering the most – rather it’s about knowing what matters most.

“ITC believes the future of luxury travel will be defined not by businesses that simply offer more, but by those that create greater value through expertise, trusted partnerships and genuinely personalised experiences.

“We’ve refined our portfolio, strengthened our partnerships, brought our client journey closer together and created a more connected leadership team because we believe focus creates value.  

“For our clients, that means more thoughtful, more personal experiences.  

“For our travel agent partners, it means greater expertise, closer collaboration and a clearer proposition.  

“For our airline, hotel and destination partners, it means deeper relationships, stronger commercial focus and a business that’s investing in the partnerships that matter most.”