Starting Monday (4 September), Gardener will work across all of dnata’s brands including Gold Medal and its specialist brands Pure Luxury, Cruise Plus and Incredible Journeys. She will report to head of trade partnerships Stuart Simmons.

Gardener was most recently Insider Journeys’ business development manager, where she was responsible for events, webinars, and in-store visits.

Her first role in travel was at Co-operative Travel before joining Cornwall-based Newell’s Travel, where she was promoted to shop manager within a year.

Gardener said: “I have been in travel for over seven years, and in this time I have pushed myself to be the best I can be. To be able to work with a company as incredible as dnata Travel Group is a huge achievement.

"I have worked alongside their flagship brand, Gold Medal, ever since I started out in travel, and to now be a part of the team is a dream come true. I am so excited to get started and get out on the road to see our agent partners in the South West, South Wales and Channel Islands.” 

Simmons added: “Jessica brings with her a strong retail background and on-the-road experience, having worked with some of the UK’s biggest brands. Looking after the South West, South Wales and the Channel Islands, I truly feel Jessica will jump into this role and build fantastic relationships with the agents in her region.”