London Southend Airport is set to increase engagement with local travel agents by appointing its first Trade and Events Manager, starting January 2025.   

Sarah Martin, currently Branch Manager at Hays Travel Southend, started her career with First Choice/Intatravel in 1996. Since then, she has had spells in both regional and in-branch roles with Co-Operative Travel, Thomas Cook Travel and Hays Travel. 

Now, with more than 20 years of travel industry experience under her belt, Sarah’s expertise in understanding how agents work will be vital in helping London Southend regain and surpass its two million passengers from 2019.

Having previously worked as a Regional Events Coordinator, she’ll lead in organising and hosting B2B meetings, airport visits, FAM trips, events and more.

Commenting on the new appointment, London Southend Airport 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 Martin, Trade and Events Manager, said: “I’m thrilled to have joined the award-winning London Southend Airport team, and I am excited to contribute to the recovery of the airport’s passenger traffic. 

“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!”

Sarah will join the team just in time for the busy peak booking season - over 50% of summer holiday bookings are historically made between December and March.  

The announcement comes as London Southend confirms plans for its second consumer travel show next month, and readies for the return of an easyJet base in March.