Global Travel Collection UK appoints Danny Paines as sales manager

Global Travel Collection UK (GTC UK) has appointed Danny Paines as sales manager to help grow the business and attract more agents to the group.

Paines, whose previous roles include positions at business travel agency Altour and Flight Centre Travel Group, will work alongside Andy Hampshaw, senior manager of revenue development.

His main focus will be on securing new corporate accounts and expanding the number of GTC’s UK-based independent travel agents beyond the current total of 105.

GTC UK vice-president Francesca Mendola said Paines’ expertise was a “great fit” for the company and he was joining at a “pivotal moment of growth”.

She added: “Our investment in Danny shows our commitment to supporting the business growth of our independent consultants, as well as bringing new independent advisors into the GTC family.”

Paines said: “I’m honoured to join the team at such an exciting time. There is a real shift in the UK market, where corporate agents are looking to set up their own businesses to independently offer high-level services to corporates.

“I look forward to working with GTC UK’s independent consultants to provide their corporate clients with a personalised, high-touch service model.”

Black Voyage founder Jo Baiao, whose homeworking agency was formerly affiliated with InteleTravel, is the latest agent to have joined GTC UK.

He and business partner – and fiancé – Jobe Potter said the move had allowed them to focus more on high-end clients. He added 80% of business was currently in the leisure market.

Mendola said: “We’re always looking for agents who are hungry and ambitious with their growth and from my initial meeting with Jo, that really came across.

“I could tell they were hungry and really innovative in terms of accelerating their business and we want to provide that support to professionals who want to take their businesses to the next level.”

Further outlining the brand’s strategy in the UK, she said: “We’re looking at really smart growth. We’re not looking at being a mass market agency.

“We’re looking for really quality agents who are truly invested in their business, but want to take it to the next level.”