Azamara, Not Just Travel, InsideJapan: all the latest travel trade people moves

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Azamara, Not Just Travel, InsideJapan: all the latest travel trade people moves

Training

James Chapple

26 March 2025

TTG’s weekly round-up of the latest appointments, promotions, restructurings and farewells from across the trade is the definitive digest of the travel trade people moves you need to know about.

TTG's weekly people moves digest is published every Wednesday

Moves this week include a return for a familiar face to her previous employer to serve as a voice for the group’s homeworkers and franchisees.

Elsewhere, a cruise line has reshuffled part of its leadership team with a couple of promotions designed to better serve agents, while a specialist has created a new sales team dedicated to the trade.

Meanwhile, a business has made the jump to employee ownership, a move its founder and chief believes will set it on a stronger path.

So here are the latest major travel trade hires, promotions and job moves over the past week (Wednesday 19 March to Wednesday 26 March).

Have you recently made a new appointment or taken on a new role? Do you have some personnel news for us from your business or organisation? Drop us an email at feedback@ttgmedia.com.

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Familiar face returns to franchise outfit in new role

Mel Garthwaite has returned to Not Just Travel in a newly created franchise manager role after a 12-month spell with a start-up. Garthwaite, who previously served as the franchising and homeworking agency's head of quality assurance and training, will oversee the firm’s travel consultant forum, acting as a bridge between homeworkers and the management team. In her role, Garthwaite will also be responsible for creating a schedule of in-person and online meetings with consultants. “I was happy in my job,” said Garthwaite. “However, when Paul Harrison and Steve Witt personally invited me to join them in a role I was born to do, I couldn’t resist. To be the voice of the consultants, create a stronger community through in-person, fun socials and meetings, as well as deliver change through representing consultants, is a true honour.” Prior to joining Not Just Travel, Garthwaite held positions with Airtours and Destinology, where she spent 17 years working in a number of roles, including as customer service manager.

Azamara reshapes senior team to support trade growth

Small-ship line Azamara Cruises has shaken up its leadership team to “reinforce its commitment” to the trade. Head of trade sales Stuart Pearce has been promoted to UK and Ireland director of sales, while international head of partnerships and trading Lee Surman has been made international director of partnerships and trading. Pearce, who has been with the line for the past 17 years, will continue to oversee sales strategy and growth in his new role, and will work with strategic account manager Nikki Singleton and business development managers Peter Ryan and Moira Gregson to bolster relationships with the trade. Surman, meanwhile, has worked for Azamara for more than a decade after starting in the line’s sales team. His remit has been expanded to include oversight for Azamara's EMEA general sales agent partnerships, and international market initiatives. Managing director David Duff said: “Throughout my time at Azamara Cruises, we’re proud to have established a culture that celebrates hard-work, success and long-standing commitment, and Stuart and Lee are a testament to this.”

Specialist creates 'elite' team to better serve agents

Inside Travel Group has created a dedicated agency sales team featuring some of the group's “elite” Japan and Asia consultants. Every member of the team, which will be headed up by Claire Brothers, has been with the business for at least two years, and together they share a combined 35 years’ experience living in Japan. InsideJapan and InsideAsia parent, ITG, said the decision to create the team followed its best-ever first quarter for trade sales, and reflected increased sales from the trade, and the increased importance of agents, to the business. Head of trade Gabo Quiros said the team would ensure agents have a single point of contact at ITG. “We won’t be passing agents around, which will allow the expert and agent to build a bond and ensure a more efficient sale and all-round better experience,” said Brothers. ITG’s business development managers Holly Brown and Charlie Orr will continue to work with agents around the country to deliver training opportunities and other support.

Ticketing firm transitions to employee ownership

Attraction Tickets and DoSomethingDifferent's more than 100 members of staff will share more than £1 million in bonuses as the business transitions to an employee ownership trust (EOT) model. Founder and chief executive Oliver Brendon and his fellow shareholders have sold their shares, which the EOT will hold for employees' benefit. Brendon and his management team will continue to oversee the business, while a new EOT board will be chaired by Juliet Thorburn, global HR director at fellow employee-owned business Scott Bader. Brendon stressed the move would not stymy the business's growth plans. “Employee ownership is one of the most equitable forms of capitalism, whereby value is shared among those who work hard to create it,” said Brendon. “Employees and management will be more focused than ever on business performance because they will benefit from our ongoing success. This is an important milestone for the company I started 23 years ago, and we are all excited about future growth.” Other EOT businesses include ROL Cruise, who recently talked TTG through the change, the John Lewis Partnership and Richer Sounds.