The move aims to strengthen the community of its 720+ travel consultants, providing them with more of a voice, and to bring together the homeworkers and corporate team together to become a stronger collective.

Garthwaite will head Not Just Travel’s TC Forum (Travel Consultant Forum), launched in September 2024, which is an advisory board and community council. As the voice of the consultants, Mel will also bring their ideas and suggestions directly to management. NJT management will also be able to learn from travel consultants and test ideas. Mel is tasked with creating a schedule of in-person and online meet-ups for consultants, recognising that socialisation and peer-to-peer learning is a key aspect to happy, contented and confident homeworkers. 

Garthwaite, who was previously Not Just Travel’s Head of Quality Assurance and Training said: “I was tempted across by a travel start-up for 12 months. I was happy in my job, 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. I see the change they have created within the company in just a year and their vision is incredibly exciting. 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.” Mel has over 27 years of experience in the travel industry, having worked as a holiday and ski rep with Airtours, before joining Destinology for 17 years where she worked in a number of roles.

Steve Witt added: “Our consultants tell us how much of a supportive family we are - however we just got a whole lot stronger. Not Just Travel is here, not just to plough everything we do into making our consultants better travel entrepreneurs, but to also make their lives better, to look after their wellbeing and simply to make selling travel more fun. Our new values include “We Keep it Simple, We Do the Right Thing, We Share Mutual Appreciation” and Mel is the perfect person to help us embody them.”