Inside Travel Group has appointed a global trade marketing manager as it looks to further grow trade sales.

Tom Welland has been recruited to the new role at the group, which comprises the InsideJapan and InsideAsia brands. He previously worked for Bristol-based ski tour operator Heidi.

The trade now accounts for 40% of Inside Travel Group’s overall business, with agents seen as integral to the operator’s success. Trade sales are up by 30% year-on-year.

The appointment of Welland is to be followed by further announcements as part of “big plans” to continue increasing the group’s trade sales, said head of trade Gabo Quiros, as agent sales go from “strength to strength”.

Quiros said: “Tom will play an important role alongside our UK business development managers and the magnificent team of specialist consultants we have at Inside Travel.”

He added: “With Tom’s help, we look to continue growing partnerships and driving growth together with them. Our travel agent partners are integral to our success.”

Welland said: “I am so excited to join Inside Travel group and am looking forward to supporting our trade partners in achieving their growth goals.

“This company already has an incredible reputation in terms of its product and service, but my role here is to make it even easier for our trade partners to sell InsideJapan and InsideAsia trips.”

InsideJapan said it has booked record numbers of holidaymakers so far this year. Booking confirmations for 2004 are up 175% on 2023, with Korea its fastest-growing destination, representing 48% of bookings so far this year.