The four-strong team will exclusively handle agent enquiries and bookings, after the brand previously dealt with calls from the trade and customers on the same telephone line.

The contact centre will operate from Riviera’s head office in Burton-on-Trent and will be open Monday-Friday 9.00-17.30, Saturday 09.00-17.00 and Sunday from 10.00-16.00 via Riviera’s existing channels.

The team has all been hired internally and comprises Matt Anthony, Beverley Darmanin, Diane Ibson and Elizabeth Monk. They will report into Amy Joy, sales team manager.

Thomas Morgan, Riviera Travel head of trade, said: "Agents are central to the success of Riviera, and our dedicated, trade-friendly team will help further strengthen communications.

"We want front-line agents to be able to build relationships with them, and easily and effectively get in touch whenever they have a related question or booking enquiry."