Travel 2 and Gold Medal have announced the structure of their new joint sales team.
Gordon McCreadie (pictured), newly-appointed director of sales and marketing B2B for both brands, said the businesses would remain “100% trade only” with on-the-road managers and teams in Preston and Glasgow.
He pledged to offer the trade more fam trips, “bigger and better incentives” and more training.
Key account managers will report into Tracy Hirsz, head of sales B2B UK, who has worked at both Travel 2 and Gold Medal during her 20-year career. Hirsz’s main focus will be on ensuring both brands maintain a strong relationship with the trade.
Tina Hodge, national account manager, will manage relationships with key consortiums.
Both Hirsz and Hodge will report into McCreadie who will oversee relationships with independents and multiples for sales and marketing.
The restructured team is made up of the existing Travel 2 and Gold Medal sales teams, allowing for each of the eight key account managers to cover a smaller geographical area. The aim of this is for team to be able to spend more time focusing on developing support with existing partners as well as new agents.
The brands said the team would now have more time to support training, marketing, events and in store promotions, as well as helping agent to become experts for both businesses.
A team of three development managers will be led by Ruth Hilton, head of sales and business development to manage the existing Thoams Cook and Gold Medal relationship.
This team is set to work with Thomas Cook stores at a grass roots level.
In her new role, Hilton will take responsibility for developing new business in the UK and Ireland which will launch in the coming months.
Karen Fletcher will continue to be based in Preston where she will manage the Gold Medal wholesale relationships
McCreadie said: “Both of our businesses are growing and my new team really is the best in the business. I’m excited to be given the opportunity to maximise the phenomenal talent sitting within the Travel 2 and Gold Medal families.
“All staff are staying, so whilst our agents might be meeting new faces over the next few weeks, we know the importance of existing relationships and are committed to maintaining these.
“Everything that our agents value about both brands will remain, with more fam trips, bigger and better incentives and more training already planned for the upcoming key turn of year booking period.
“We remain 100 per cent trade only with the on-the-road managers and strong teams in Preston and Glasgow available to answer and service agents and ensure that they get the support they need to drive sales.”