JacTravel, the UK-based B2B wholesaler, is investing in expansion in the Middle East. It has gained an official local operators license in the UAE, where it will trade as ‘JacTravel Tourism LLC’ from a new office in Dubai from early April. This is a significant step forward for the company, which has had a local representative office in Dubai since December 2012. To consolidate its position, the company has recruited additional contracting and sales staff.
Malcolm Lindop, Head of Contracting, said: “With our new local operator status, global distribution, a track record of consistent strong growth over the past few years and local staff who are interested in building strong relationships with hotels, we are well placed to grow the quality and quantity of JacTravel’s inventory in the region. That, in turn, will make JacTravel a more compelling supplier to trade clients.”
Taoufiq Abouchadi, JacTravel’s Contracts Manager for the Middle East/North Africa, who has spearheaded JacTravel’s UAE presence, growing inventory to over 200 hotels in the past two years, will now be supported by Christina Macdonald who joins the Dubai-based team.
The company’s most senior new hire is Dan Cross, who joins as Regional Head of Sales, Middle East and North Africa, who reports into Alexia Renedo, Director of Global Sales – FIT. Dan has over six years experience working in online travel, during which time he has overseen growth in markets around the world. In the Middle East, Dan is known as a media commentator on travel and as an Awards judge. He says: “My target is to expand JacTravel’s business in terms of revenue and brand recognition. This is a good moment to be doing so, taking advantage of the build up to Expo 2020, which will attract huge numbers of new visitors to Dubai.”
Mario Bodini, President and CCO, concluded: “The Middle Eastern market is booming, fuelled particularly by increasing numbers of people travelling within the region. Our strategy is to build very strong local team in order to offer a service that is highly knowledgeable, imaginative and responsive to the needs and aspirations of both clients and suppliers.”
