ITC Travel Group has recruited Chris Redfern to head up sales in the north of England as it further expands its agency sales team. 

Redfern will look after the group’s leading brands including Inspiring Travel Company, Rainbow Tours, Regent Holidays and Spectate, and will work alongside Gary Bates, who is currently responsible for sales across the south of England.

Both teams are supported by Abi Hyslop, head of trade relations.

Redfern joins the group from Beds With Ease, where he was business development manager. He has also worked at Jet2 Holidays and Palladium Hotels.

“I am delighted to be joining the group at an exciting time within the company’s growth, building existing relationships and also establishing new partnerships,” he said.

Hyslop added: “Chris is a great addition to our team and I’m sure he’ll make a great impression with our trade partners across the north.” 

The announcement follows ITC’s recent appointment of Jason Hilton as sales director, who said the group was hoping to build long term commercial relationships with agents over the coming year, with initiatives ranging from new fam trips to increased brochure supplies.

“We will be engaging with our trade partners over the coming weeks, sharing our plans for the future which include enhanced marketing collateral, fantastic fam trips to destinations including Costa Rica and Cambodia along with a raft of exciting agent incentives,” he said.

“The team at ITC Travel Group will be looking to build the awareness of all our brands, the destinations we cover and highlighting the vast experience and knowledge of our staff.

“Following recent feedback, we’ll be increasing brochure supplies to those agents who require them, and at the same time re-launching our amazing “white label” online brochure system.

“The system allows agents to produce bespoke, agent branded brochures to send onto their customers via post or email - this is a market leading initiative which we believe will be very well received from our trade partners.

“The team will be actively looking to build long term commercial relationships with agents, working closely to develop long term strategic partnerships. 

“It’s great to have our new trade team in place and we are all looking forward to taking our trade business to the next level."