Tara Jerrard’s appointment highlights APT & Travelmarvel’s commitment to strengthening business partnerships in the south of England.
- Jerrard brings extensive experience in corporate, airline, and agency account management to her new role.
- Her work will focus on enhancing trade partnerships, supporting retail agency partners, and uncovering new business avenues.
- As APT nears its centenary and Travelmarvel launches a new ship, Jerrard’s role becomes crucial.
- The company’s ‘trade first’ philosophy is central to fostering positive relationships and opportunities for agents.
APT & Travelmarvel have strategically appointed Tara Jerrard as the new business development manager, targeting the southern region of England. Her appointment is not just a routine hire; it underscores the company’s forward-thinking approach towards bolstering their market presence in this pivotal region. Drawing from her robust background in senior corporate, airline, and agency account management with titans such as Etihad Airways and ACE Travel Management, Jerrard is expected to leverage her expertise to foster and expand trade partnerships.
Reporting directly to Brad Bennetts, the company’s head of sales and business development, Jerrard’s mandate is clear. She aims to build upon the existing foundation of the southern sales region, enhancing APT & Travelmarvel’s product offerings to agents. Her day-to-day operations will involve a mixture of supporting APT’s independent retail agency partners, identifying and nurturing new business opportunities, as well as delivering targeted training and strategic campaigns to agents dispersed throughout the southern counties of the UK.
The timing of this appointment is particularly significant. It coincides with APT’s forthcoming centenary celebrations and Travelmarvel’s anticipated launch of the MS Estrela on the Douro River in Portugal. Jerrard’s role is poised to be pivotal in steering these initiatives to fruition, ensuring that the company’s goals align with its trade partners’ needs.
In her own words, Jerrard expressed her excitement about joining APT, emphasising the company’s people- and partner-centric approach as a key motivator for her decision. She noted the bustling potential of river cruising, small ship sailing, and touring sectors, describing them as burgeoning areas with immense business prospects. Bennetts echoed this enthusiasm, underscoring the importance of having a competent sales team to drive success alongside the quality of the company’s offerings.
Tara Jerrard’s appointment marks a strategic move by APT & Travelmarvel to enhance their southern market operations and reinforce trade partnerships.
