Travelsphere and Just You Expand UK Trade Team with...

Specialist tour operators Travelsphere and Just You have expanded their UK trade sales operation following the appointment of Ashley Walker as Channel Support Manager. Operating under parent company G Touring, the newly created role brings the brands' dedicated UK trade team to seven members, providing a centralized point of contact for group booking inquiries while streamlining commercial support for high street travel agents.

G Touring Trade Operations Overview

[MARKET HARBOROUGH, October 4, 2026] — Guided touring specialists Travelsphere and Just You have strengthened their commercial sales structure with the appointment of Ashley Walker as Channel Support Manager. Based at G Touring’s operational headquarters in Market Harborough, Walker will oversee group booking workflows, internal process optimizations, and trade partner communications.

The recruitment expands G Touring's dedicated UK trade team to seven members, following two years of progressive investment in travel agency support infrastructure across the United Kingdom.

Commercial Appointment Parameter	Operational Specification	Trade Strategy & Agency Impact
Appointee & Title	Ashley Walker, Channel Support Manager	Centralized management of group booking inquiries and agency admin support
Operating Brands	Travelsphere & Just You (G Touring)	Escorted group touring and solo traveler specialist operations
Executive Reporting Line	Reports to Trade Sales Director Tom Morgan	Aligns administrative support with regional field sales operations
Professional Background	10 Years Industry Experience (Ex-Riviera Travel)	Track record in customer service, business development, and trade support
HQ Operational Base	Market Harborough, Leicestershire, UK	Centralized UK commercial and reservation support office
Trade Team Capacity	Expanded to 7 Dedicated UK Members	Offloads routine admin to maximize field sales team agency visits

Strategic Scope of the Channel Support Manager Role

The creation of the Channel Support Manager position addresses the administrative demands associated with group tour bookings. By centralizing group inquiries under a dedicated specialist, Travelsphere and Just You aim to accelerate response times and simplify booking processes for independent travel agents and consortium partners.

Core Operational Responsibilities

Centralized Group Inquiries: Managing complex group reservation requests, custom itineraries, and allocation blocks across both Travelsphere and Just You portfolios.
Internal Process Optimization: Reviewing reservation workflows and trade support protocols to eliminate operational bottlenecks and shorten booking turnaround times.
Field Sales Support: Offloading routine administrative duties from regional account managers, allowing field sales representatives to increase on-site travel agency visits and training sessions.

Background and Industry Track Record

Ashley Walker joins G Touring following a decade of service within the UK travel trade, having previously held senior trade-facing roles at Riviera Travel.

His career progression includes:

Travel Consultant: Developing foundational expertise in customer service, booking reservations, and complex itinerary planning.
Business Development Executive: Managing retail travel agency accounts, commercial agreements, and regional sales growth.
Senior Trade Support Executive: Leading trade helpdesk operations, group booking processing, and agent relationship management.

Reporting directly to Trade Sales Director Tom Morgan, Walker brings practical experience in trade helpdesk management and agency relationship building to G Touring's Market Harborough headquarters.

Expansion of G Touring's UK Trade Infrastructure

The addition of a seventh trade team member underscores G Touring's commitment to supporting the retail travel agent sector across the UK. Over the past 24 months, Travelsphere and Just You have steadily expanded their trade-facing resources to assist travel advisors in selling escorted group tours and solo traveler packages.

Benefits for Independent Travel Agencies

Faster Turnaround for Group Quotes: Travel agents handling affinity groups, private clubs, or multi-family bookings receive dedicated channel support.
Increased Field Sales Engagement: With administrative tasks centralized, regional sales managers can conduct more frequent store visits, host agent webinars, and deliver product training.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlined booking procedures reduce administrative friction when securing solo traveler packages through Just You or worldwide escorted tours through Travelsphere.

Strategic Outlook for Escorted and Solo Touring Sales

As demand for structured group travel and solo touring continues to rise among UK travelers in 2026, tour operators rely heavily on retail agent distribution channels. By establishing a clear division between administrative channel support and active field sales, G Touring aims to enhance service levels for trade partners nationwide.