Funway Holidays is inviting ‘frank conversations’ with agents as it restructures its sales team to significantly grow in the north of England.
The operator has promoted marketing director Nick Talbot to the wider role of sales and marketing director following head of sales Audrey Brooks-Wiggins’ departure in July. Brooks-Wiggins, formerly of Thomas Cook, is not being directly replaced.
The on-the-road sales team is being expanded, and their roles changed, from three account directors to two regional sales managers and two business development managers for the north and south. Both BDMs will report into the RSMs.
Curtis Hunter, previously of Hotelbeds, has been made RSM for the north and Stephen Craven, previously at North America Travel Service, has joined as BDM for the north.
Account manager Craig Liddle has been promoted to RSM for the south, while account manager Sam Orbell, becomes BDM for the south.
The company is also looking to expand its head office based agency sales support team from one person, Hannah Zajac, to help agents with day to day queries.
Talbot said Funway wanted more agent feedback as it increases its sales team.
He said: “My objective is to have frank conversations with agents on what works for them and what they deem to be our weaknesses so we can continue to evolve the business.”
He praised Brooks-Wiggins’ “amazing” work to improve agent ties prior to her departure but said the new structure would give more focus to trade in the north. “A lot of our successful agents are based in the north,” he added.
Funway will also look at opportunities to get more sales from Northern Ireland and increase agent engagement and training as well as developing its 500 Club for its top performing agents.