Fred Holidays has recruited five members of staff to help with Collette sales, following the British company’s appointment as UK general sales agent for the US-based tour operator.
Fred Olsen Travel, trading as Fred Holidays, took over as GSA for Collette at the start of September.
It has taken on three former employees of US tour operator Collette – Charlotte Hayward, Ian Cross and Emily Curtiss – to help with sales.
More: Collette returns to Atas as Fred Olsen Travel becomes sales agent
Furthermore, it has recruited Briony Smith as business development executive for the north, and Emily Stansfield as travel support specialist for the Collette sales team.
Two regional sales managers are also being sought to help with Collette trade sales across the country.
Smith has worked for Thomas Cook and most recently was a sales executive at Super Break, which stopped trading in August.
Stansfield started at Fred Olsen Travel’s cruise administration department before spending four-and-a-half years as an onboard entertainment hostess with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.
Simon Chambers, Fred Holidays’ operations manager, said: “This is a very exciting time for us and our aim is to deliver Collette back to the UK trade.
“By recruiting three of the Collette sales team and expanding our field sales team, the transition will be seamless, and we look forward to developing our trade relationships further.”
Smith added: “I can’t wait to get back out there to meet existing trade accounts and to help develop new partnerships. Collette is an amazing product and, with the variety of tours on offer, from the traditional to the expanded selection of small group exploration tours, there is something for everyone.”
A new Collette brochure for 2020-21 launches in the UK next week, with touring holidays in the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica.
Collette has rejoined the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas) and will attend the Atas conference (September 18-19).
More: Collette returns to Atas as Fred Olsen Travel becomes sales agent