The Travel Corporation has announced that Ruth Hilton, sales and business development director for Trafalgar and CostSaver in the UK & Ireland, will take on the additional responsibilities with the company.
Following a rejig, she will oversee sister brands Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold following the departure of Paul Melinis, director of sales of Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold, after seventeen years with the business.
In a newly created role, Hilton will be responsible for the sales, marketing and business development of all four guided holiday brands in the UK & Ireland, effective immediately.
She will manage a dedicated marketing team and a field sales team of six that will now operate across all the brands, allowing them to really meet the touring needs of any agent, from the value, flexi-touring proposition of CostSaver through to the luxury escorted journeys by Luxury Gold.
Each sales individual’s territory will become smaller, allowing them to forge deeper relationships with agent partners, create more detailed plans and ultimately take a more collaborative and tailored approach.
Hilton will report in to Gavin Tollman, chief executive of Trafalgar and CostSaver, and Ulla Hefel Böhler, chief executive of Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold.
Tollman commented: “With Paul leaving, we were in a position to review our strategy and structure in the UK and the time seemed right to bring together the knowledge, experience and relationships held by the two established sales teams under the leadership of Ruth, who has done a fantastic job of growing Trafalgar and CostSaver’s business in the UK.
“Our award-winning brands are distinct and established, and I have no doubt that all four will continue to thrive with Ruth at the helm.
“We’d like to thank our valued travel agent partners for all their support on this journey and look forward to our greatest years being ahead of us.”
Hilton will have a handover period of a month with Melinis, ensuring a smooth transition for staff and industry partners.