Samantha Gibbs has been recruited as business development manager for GoCruise & Travel, the franchise business owned and operated by Fred Olsen Travel.
She has particular responsibility for developing growth within the non-cruise area of the business.
Her retail experience includes 10 years with Tui and more recently six years at Midcounties Co-operative, recruiting and supporting Personal Travel Agents.
She said: “After many successful years at Midcounties Personal Travel Agents, I have learnt so much about homeworking and also working for an independent agent.
“I’m excited to bring my knowledge and experience to help GoCruise & Travel expand the travel side of the business.
“Working with self-employed agents to grow their businesses along with building relationships with tour operators is a great part of what I do.
“I’m very much looking forward to helping grow the number of agents and help those current agents increase their travel sales.”
Steve Williams, Fred Olsen Travel managing director, said: “For more than a decade we have established ourselves and continued to grow our business as specialists within the cruise industry.
“However more of our franchisees have identified their clients do more than just cruise and so the chance to work with someone of Sam’s experience and contacts within travel is a very exciting opportunity for us.
“I am looking forward to seeing a development of non-cruise sales and growth in agent partners to take our business forward.
“Obviously this is an opportune time with the market in a state of flux at the moment.”