Cruise lines, airlines and more made major hires and appointments this week in the travel industry.
Celestyal Cruises expanded its business development team in North America with the appointment of three new business development managers: Andrae Roberts-Dukes, Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada based in Baltimore; Maria Triantos, Central Region based in Chicago; and Ryan Campbell, Western U.S. and Canada based in Seattle. Robert-Dukes joins the line from Trafalgar, Brendan Vacations and Costsaver, while Triantos most recently served with Mayflower Cruises and Tours. Campbell spent the past four years at Premier World Discovery.
In business travel news, RoomIt by CWT, the hotel distribution division of travel management company CWT, named Brian Zacker its VP of global sales. Based in Chicago, Zacker joined RoomIt and the CWT business finance organization last June, as VP of finance for RoomIt. He will remain a member of the RoomIt leadership team.
In air travel news, this week ExpressJet Airlines, a United Express carrier, named John Greenlee its chief financial officer and senior vice president of planning and operations control. Greenlee joins ExpressJet with more than 20 years of finance, fleet planning and regional airline experience at United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Most recently, he served as managing director of United Express Business Strategy, where he was responsible for commercially managing the portfolio of regional flying partnerships that supports the airline's global network.
In hotel and resort news, Grace Bay Resorts appointed Robert Eastman as its new director of private villas and key accounts. Eastman brings nearly 30 years of experience in the villa and vacation rental business to this newly created role, most recently as the head of national accounts for Onefinestay.
Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants this week promoted Matthew Hurlburt to area director of operations for New York and Pennsylvania, as well as general manager of the Kimpton Muse Hotel in Manhattan. In his new role, Matthew will oversee six Kimpton properties in both states: Kimpton Hotel Eventi, Kimpton Ink48 Hotel and Kimpton Muse Hotel in New York City; Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia and Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia and Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh. He has been with the company for six years.
Finally, a number of individual properties made new leadership appointments this week:
- The Chatwal New York, a Luxury Collection Hotel, promoted Yina Javier to director of sales and marketing.
- Kasia K. Bronisz was named director of sales and marketing, DC for the Riggs Washington DC, a new hotel property opening in late 2019 in D.C.’s Penn Quarter neighborhood.
- The Pierre New York, A Taj Hotel, announced that Mary Beth O’Connor has joined the hotel as director of sales and marketing.
- Hilton Orlando named Jason Cabrera its new hotel manager.
- The Mandarin Oriental Canouan appointed Kelly Mickens its sales manager for the United States and Canada.
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