AITO promotes membership manager
Bharat Gadhoke has been promoted to the newly-created role of head of commercial for AITO, The Specialist Travel Association.
He was formerly AITO’s membership manager.
Deputy chairman John Tangney said: "Bharat’s role has expanded considerably over the past five years, from research, recruitment and retention of top-quality members (both operators and agents) and keeping tabs on key industry issues to a far broader remit, including liaison with Government departments on all the key topics affecting AITO members.
"As AITO’s new head of commercial, Bharat’s much-expanded portfolio within the organisation has been recognised. He is, effectively, our new executive director’s deputy, delivering welcome continuity at a time of change.
"AITO is a modestly-sized trade association that punches way above its weight, due largely to the fact that the entire team is flexible and happy to turn their hand to whatever issues need attention. Bharat has proved to be a loyal and hard-working senior team member, hugely knowledgeable about the travel industry, and his promotion is due recognition of that fact."
Executive director Martyn Sumners added: "Bharat is, in my view, a core member of the AITO team and I am delighted to recognise his sterling efforts over the past five years in the form of this well-deserved promotion.
"Bharat’s extensive experience and strong industry relationships – gained during both his time at AITO and in his previous industry roles within the travel sector – are, quite simply, invaluable to the entire AITO team, and especially to me as I settle into my new role."
Before joining AITO, Gadhoke was an account manager at AITO member Beachcomber Tours, which owns a selection of luxury hotels, resorts and villas in Mauritius.
Before that he was a manager at American Express Travel and at Flight Centre UK Limited.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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