Dnata Travel Group appoints new trade partnership manager

Dnata Travel Group UK B2B has appointed Jessica Gardener as trade partnership manager for the southwest, south Wales and the Channel Islands.

Gardener, who was most recently business development manager at Insider Journeys, will start her new role on September 4.

Reporting to head of trade partnerships Stuart Simmons, she will work across the group’s UK B2B brands – Gold Medal, Pure Luxury, Cruise Plus and Incredible Journeys.

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Gardener said: “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.”

She added: “I am so excited to get started and get out on the road to see our agent partners in the southwest, south Wales and Channel Islands.”

Gardener started in the travel industry seven years ago at Co-operative Travel, before joining Cornwall-based Newell’s Travel where she was an award-winning shop manager of the St Austell branch.

At Insider Journeys, she was responsible for events, webinars and in-store visits.

In her new position, Gardener will work alongside fellow trade partnership managers Raymond McErlaine, Helen Warnes, Louisa Jackson and Carmen Moreira.

Simmons said: “I’m so pleased to be welcoming Jessica into our team. Jessica brings with her a strong retail background and on the road experience, having worked with some of the UK’s biggest brands.”

He added: “I truly feel Jessica will jump into this role and build fantastic relationships with the agents in her region.”

Gardener said: “I have been in travel now 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 really is a huge achievement.”