Pleasant Holidays, which specializes in such destinations as Hawaii, the Caribbean and Mexico, has announced the appointment of Margaret Forton as regional sales manager for the Midwest and Eastern United States.
Bringing more than 15 years of travel industry sales experience to the role, Forton will be responsible for managing a regional network of business development managers (BDMs), working closely with travel agent partners to grow sales in the Midwestern and Eastern United States.
She will also participate in strategic discussions with agency partners for Pleasant Holidays’ luxury travel brand, Journese.
“Forton has a proven track record of employing innovative strategies to grow FIT and group sales in a variety of wholesale travel markets,” said Steven M. Hattem, senior director of sales, in a written release. “Her extensive travel industry experience, relationship management skills and strategic mindset will be invaluable assets in this newly created role that focuses on growing sales in the key East Coast and Midwest markets for Pleasant Holidays, Journese and its travel agent partners.”
Forton’s experience includes director-level roles in sales strategy and management at a variety of tour operators where she developed programs to grow sales and nurture relationships with industry partners.
As regional sales manager for the Midwest/Eastern region, she will work closely with Pleasant Holidays BDMs in her region to promote brand awareness and foster closer relationships between Pleasant Holidays and its agency partners. Additionally, she will provide competitive insight and analysis to chart new directions in customer relationship management and regional sales strategy.
Visit www.pleasantagent.com and www.journese.com