Visit Isle of Man has appointed Caroline Hadfield to drive the destination’s partnerships with the travel trade.
The new role – which is the first of its kind for the company in the UK – signals a strategic shift by the agency to increase trade relationships in a bid to drive visitor growth and deliver its ambitious target to reach 500,000 visitors per year by 2032.
Hadfield will be taking up the role of business development manager and will focus on the UK and Irish markets, with the potential to develop international general sales agents (GSA) networks in the future.
She will also look to deliver a new travel trade strategy which focuses on building relationships with the travel trade, drive visitor growth in the shoulder season by increasing current schedules and increase the island’s representation and profile.
Deborah Heather, chief executive of Visit Isle of Man, said: "Caroline will be identifying growth areas and ensuring the Isle of Man is a destination or venue of choice for travel trade, MICE organisers and industry bodies.
"We are delighted to have Caroline on board and look forward to working with her to raise awareness of the Isle of Man, and its offering, as we look to achieve the ambitious targets outlined in the strategy."
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