US operator Avanti Destinations is recruiting 20 travel consultants for a new Manchester-based calls centre.

The operator, whose head office is in Portland, Oregon, has leased space in Salford Quays, where consultants will handle phone, web-based and email enquiries from US travel agents.

Avanti Destinations sells holidays to Europe, the UK, North Africa, the Middle East and Central and South America, it says historically the greatest number of bookings are for travel to the UK and Europe.

Its Manchester calls centre will handle enquiries mainly from the east side of America.

“We chose Manchester because of its well-educated, well-travelled workforce,” said CEO Paul Barry.

“We needed to expand the hours that trained Avanti consultants are available to US travel agents, particularly those based in the eastern part of the US. 

“Our Portland call center, which opens at 6:30am local time, is three hours behind the Eastern time zone and two hours behind the Central zone, which are our second and third largest markets.”

Training for Manchester consultants will begin on 4 September.