Tipto has appointed Newmarket Holidays’ head of trade sales Richard Forde as its new chair.
Forde replaces Nick Hughes, who left Tipto member Gold Medal to join Princess Cruises in October.
The trade marketing membership group described Forde as “a very active” Tipto member during his time as a member of the group’s leadership team.
Forde has 24 years’ travel industry experience, having started his career as a cruise ship photographer. Since then he has held sales roles at ROL Cruise, formerly known as Reader Offers Ltd, and Travelscope and Mistral Holidays before joining Newmarket Holidays 13 years ago.
He said: “When Newmarket Holidays joined Tipto back in 2010, we were welcomed into the group and we grew in stature with the trade and our agent partners year after year thereafter.
“Tipto is a great body for both agents and suppliers to learn and grow together, sharing new products, trends and market information and I am delighted and honoured to be taking over from the strong work that Nick has done.”
Events director Lorna Willis-Edwards added: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Richard as the new Tipto chair and look forward to working together in our 24th year of operation to further drive Tipto in an exciting year of growth, and I know we will all benefit from his great support and commitment.”
Tipto was saved from potential closure over a year ago and became part of Willis-Edwards’ Spirit Events & Marketing business.
“Myself and all the Tipto members would like to express an enormous thank you to Nick Hughes who gave us immense support and a lot of his time over the past three years, which proved instrumental in keeping Tipto running during and after the pandemic in 2020,” she said. “We’re eternally grateful.”