Wendy Wu Tours has appointed former STA Travel boss Glen Mintrim as managing director of its UK business.
Mintrim will be tasked with driving the Asia specialist operator’s three-year growth plan and developing its trade sales.
Wendy Wu Tours has been without a UK managing director since the departure of Mark Bloxham in October 2018.
Mintrim joins after a spell as managing director of The Crystal Maze Live Experience. He has also previously worked at Qatar Airways, Emirates, British Airways and Tui.
Mintrim, who will be based at Wendy Wu Tours’ London office, led STA’s transition from a student-focused business into a broader youth-orientated agency catering for 20 to 35-year-old travellers during his tenure as managing director from 2011 to 2017, when it recorded five years of successive growth.
More: Big Interview: Wendy Wu, founder of Wendy Wu Tours
He said: “It’s a real privilege to be at the helm of Wendy Wu Tours. We have a plan that will see us launching new and innovative products as well as nurturing and developing our links with the trade.”
Mintrim pledged to keep agents at the centre of the operator’s strategy, adding: “We absolutely value the support of our trade partners and hence will be rolling out more agent incentives and a series of exciting educationals in the next 12 months.”
Wendy Wu, founder and chairwoman of Wendy Wu Tours, added: “Glen’s track record in leading some of the UK’s most profitable travel companies is very impressive, plus he has the international experience and contacts in this sector.”
Wendy Wu Tours said its 2020 forward bookings are currently 44% up on 2019. In January, global sales director John Warr said the operator had had to “work a little bit harder” for bookings and said trade sales had outperformed direct bookings.
More: Big Interview: Wendy Wu, founder of Wendy Wu Tours [July 18]
Wendy Wu Tours given permission to process new China visa [Jan 19]
