Former Tui UK & Ireland head of sales and service long-haul and travel partnerships, Sharon Smith, has joined escorted rail operator Great Rail Journeys Ltd and has indicated some developments for the trade.
In the newly-created role of head of sales and distribution, Smith will have responsibility for all channels of distribution including travel trade partnerships.
Smith has worked in the industry for 25 years covering travel retail, call centres, homeworkers and trade sales/partnerships.
Alex Roberts, director of sales and marketing at Great Rail Journeys, said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome to the team someone with Sharon’s depth of experience who is so highly thought of within the UK travel industry.
“Sharon’s experience in delivering commercially successful sales strategies will be a considerable asset to Great Rail Journeys.”
Smith said “With a new trade website in the planning, a strengthened trade sales team and training and familiarisation trips for agents, we’ll focus on supporting agents to sell with increased knowledge and greater confidence”.