London Southend Airport has appointed a local Hays Branch Manager as its first Trade and Events Manager.
Sarah Martin, who currently manages the Southend brand of Hays Travel, will start her new job in January.
She started her travel career with First Choice/Intatravel in 1996 and has also worked at Co-Operative Travel and Thomas Cook.
In her new job, Sarah will increase engagement with local travel agents, including hosting meetings, airport visits and fam trips.
The airport’s Business Development Director Nigel Mayes said: “London Southend has never engaged with the local travel trade, so creating this position demonstrates our commitment in building and developing a new relationship between airport and agent.
“With the rise of new vertically integrated tour operators like easyJet holidays, there has been a resurgence of holidaymakers’ need for their friendly, ‘on the high street’ travel agent. It’s a brand-new way to tap into our 8.2 million catchment across east London, Essex, Southend City and the wider East Anglia region.”
Sarah said: “Having spent all my working career in and around travel agents, it was a very hard decision to leave Hays Travel behind, but my new role will mean still working with friends and colleagues from the travel trade community that I love.
“I can’t wait to get out on the road in January and make new relationships, as well as helping to organise all the exciting B2B and B2C events London Southend has planned in 2025 and beyond to incentivise selling our 17 destinations – on sale now.”
