Cosmos appoints marketing chief for coach tour division

Cosmos Coach Tours, the worldwide coach tour company owned by Cosmos, has appointed its first dedicated marketing director.

Ali Naqvi joins the company from National Express, where he was sales and marketing director for train operators WAGN and LTS.

At Cosmos, Naqvi will report to managing director Paul Jolliffe and have responsibility for its North American and Tourama brands, as well as long-haul tailor-made specialist, Distant Dreams, and direct-selling operator Archers Direct.

Cosmos says the creation of the new role reflects the growth in the escorted coach touring market.

Naqvi, who will take up the position immediately, has held several marketing roles within the travel and leisure industry, having worked for English Heritage, Pepsi Trocadero and the Science Museum.

The new role was previously incorporated into a sales and marketing position at Cosmosair. Paul Riches held the role until he was ousted in a management shake-up. Riches later became sales and marketing director of Libra Holidays.

Naqvi says: “The escorted touring market has changed dramatically over several years, becoming highly integrated.

“Tour operators are coming to realise that this sector can offer much higher profit margins than other, mass market sectors.”