Travel Department has restructured its trade sales team as the Dublin-headquartered company has now started to work with Irish travel agents.
The escorted tours and group travel specialist, founded in Ireland in 1996, enhanced its UK distribution network in 2023, enabling British agents to sell its holidays.
Brian Fulton has been appointed in the newly created role of key account and business development manager for Ireland. His remit also covers Northern Ireland. Gemma Walker has joined the operator to become trade sales manager for Scotland.
Fulton moves from his role as sales and customer centre manager with Travel Department, where he has worked for almost three years.
He has worked in travel for more than 23 years, having started with Thomson in Glasgow before moving to Dublin and working with brands such as Cassidy Golf, Sunway Holidays, Skytours and Budget Travel.
Walker moved to Travel Department from Bedsonline, where she was key account manager. Before that, she was at Newmarket Holidays for 11 years, after working at Jet2.com/Jet2holidays and Thomas Cook.
Both will be tasked with supporting current agent partners and recruiting new partners to drive revenues from Travel Department’s worldwide programme, which features departures from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow hubs.
James Coughlan, chief executive of Travel Department, said: “We are delighted to have a dedicated team in place to support the further growth of our trade channel in both UK and Ireland and are ready to press forward with the next phase of our trade strategy with two very experienced appointments for the business.
“Brian and Gemma are well known to agents and their expertise will be vital in helping broaden our brand footprint.”
They are responsible for the regions covered by Lucy Park, the former trade sales account manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland, who has moved to Canadian Affair, with Fulton also having the new territory of Ireland.
Stephen Mills who was previously responsible for the development for Travel Department within the agent channel has left the business.
Travel Department has also upgraded its agent booking portal, with a more streamlined booking process.
Coughlan added: “Our new agent booking portal reflects our dedication to supporting travel agents as valued partners.
“It provides a seamless, intuitive experience, empowering agents to deliver exceptional service and detailed holiday insights to their customers.”