Maria Santos has joined the association as marketing communications executive and will be responsible for developing digital marketing strategies to drive traffic through social channels, collateral development for conferences and events and content management for the website.

Santos previously worked as a marketing assistant for Positively Birmingham Walking Tours and as a marketing specialist for Kallik, a labelling and artwork software company, where she was responsible for all marketing activities.

Martyn Sumners, executive director of Aito, said: "We are really pleased to welcome Maria to Aito. Her background, experience and skillset will make her a great asset to the Aito team, and we look forward to working with her and introducing her to the wider Aito family."

As well as the new position at Aito HQ, the association has also welcomed four new members to its agents’ panel: Greg Thurston of Audley Travel, Jess Dennison of Latin Routes, Scott Murray of Murray Travel and Brendan Mallon of Oasis Travel.

The panel, which consists of four agents and four operators, is chaired by Gemma Antrobus, managing director of Haslemere Travel, with Ted Wake of Kirker Holidays as deputy chairman.

Antrobus said: "I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Jess, Brendan, Scott and Greg to the agents’ panel. They all represent fantastic travel brands within the Aito family, both agent and operator.

"I look forward to working with them and to incorporating their ideas and expertise into the growth and further development of Aito Specialist Travel Agents."

The panel also includes Mark Beattie of Off Broadway Travel, Matt Spiller of Inside Travel Group, Sarah Archer of Beachcomber Tours, Carolyn Park of C The World, Bianca Wassell of The Travel Concept and Oliver Dobbs of Travel Gallery.