Brad Bennetts joins APT and Travelmarvel 

APT has appointed Brad Bennetts as head of sales and business development. He will join the business in early June 2022 and his role will include overseeing partnerships with travel agents. 

Bennetts will lead APT’s sales department, which includes three business development managers. He will be responsible for identifying and developing growth opportunities and driving sales for the luxury river cruise, small ship cruising and touring offerings of both the APT and the Travelmarvel brands. 

Bennetts joins APT from easyJet holidays, where he has been head of distribution for nearly two years. Prior to that he spent four and a half years as senior sales and retail operations manager at Kuoni.

APT and Travelmarvel managing director Paul Melinis said Bennetts was the “perfect choice” for the role, thanks to his “extensive knowledge of the UK travel industry and his genuine commitment to agents and their success.” 

Melinis continued:  “Trade sales account for 75% of our current business and we can’t think of anyone better to look after our travel agent partners from early June. Brad will oversee and develop our valued trade partnerships, as well as help agents to understand what ‘the APT difference’ really is. He will lead a brilliant sales team and make sure that we continue to deliver the best quality and value proposition in the market.”

Bennetts said he was “thrilled” to be joining the business, explaining: “In addition to driving awareness of the seven new ships that APT and Travelmarvel are launching this season, I am committed to ensuring that the brands continue to lead the market in Asian and European river cruising. With the continuation of APT’s aggressive ‘agent-first’ approach, the team and I will work tirelessly with our partners to define APT and Travelmarvel as the brands to cruise and tour with this year and beyond.” 

Bennetts replaces Jessica Shelton-Agar, who left APT to move to the Middle East in January, after 10 years with the brand. 

APT and Travelmarvel launched their 2023 European cruise collection earlier this month, which boasts new itineraries and additional departures.