This week in the travel industry Travel Leaders, Travelport and two major cruise brands all made some big executive changes.
At Travel Leaders Network, Lindsay Pearlman embarked on his next venture since leaving Ensemble Travel Group last month. Pearlman is now the company’s senior vice president, international leisure, reporting to Travel Leaders Network President Roger E. Block. The position is a new role for the company, and it will see Pearlman expanding the leisure programs at Travel Leaders Network’s international partners, which have been increasing in number as the organization looks to beef up its presence significantly worldwide.
Travelport announced a new CEO this week: Greg Webb, who was most recently SVP and general manager of Oracle Hospitality. Prior to that, he spent 20 years with Sabre in various executive positions across product development and marketing, ultimately leading Sabre’s largest business unit, Sabre Travel Network. Webb’s appointment is effective August 1, when he will succeed Gordon Wilson, who is stepping down as president and CEO. Webb will also join Travelport’s board of directors.
In cruise news, American Cruise Lines made a number of important hires to its expanding sales team. Michael Weldon has come onboard as American’s new regional director for trade sales, Mary Grimes as the new business development manager for the Southwest region, and Mena Tuccinardi as new business development manager for the Northeast region.
Aurora Expeditions also expanded its business development team in North America with the appointment of George Johns as business development manager, based in Denver. Alongside Edith Beaudoin, director of sales for North America, Johns will be responsible for initiating new and cultivating existing U.S. travel agency relationships. He has 25 years of experience promoting expedition and niche travel.
In hospitality news, Volcanoes Safaris, which operates a number of safaris and ecolodges, promoted Eloisa Barberis Canonico to director of sales and marketing. Canonico has worked with Volcanoes Safaris since 2015 and is responsible for the strategic direction of the company’s international marketing and public relations activities, as well as building and maintaining strong relationships with trade partners.
Noble House Hotels & Resorts made four leadership and management promotions: Scott Colee to chief marketing and creative officer; Sean Mullen to president of sales, revenue management and acquisitions; Don Dennis to president of operations; and Marco Perry to vice president, regional managing director for the West Coast.
A number of individual properties also made new leadership appointments:
- Thompson D.C., opening this December, announced Sherry Abedi as GM and Kelly McCourt as director of sales and marketing.
- Rachel Blake was named GM of the Hilton Garden Inn Seattle/Bellevue Downtown.
- Joel Paige was appointed COO of Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia.
- L’Auberge de Sedona, A Destination Hotel, announced the hire of General Manager Anthony Duggan, Director of Sales Christi Windle and Beverage Manager Ardi Dulaku.
- Outrigger Hospitality Group appointed Chryssaldo Thomas as GM of OHANA Waikiki East by Outrigger.
- New York Hilton Midtown promoted Kellie Cahill from director of sales and marketing to the newly created position of commercial director, overseeing all commercial areas of the hotel’s business, including catering, group events, sales, and marketing.
- Finally, The Abbey Inn & Spa, opening in New York’s Hudson Highlands area early next year, appointed four new members to its executive team: Gilbert Baeriswil as GM, Olivia Calcagnini as director of sales and marketing, John Paidas as executive chef and Eileen Whitney as director of catering.
In destination news, AREA15, an entertainment, retail and dining destination in Las Vegas, announced Blue Man Group co-founder Chris Wink as its new director of content and “cool s**t.”
South African Tourism, meanwhile, named Jerry Mpufane president for South African Tourism North America. He will be based at the organization’s New York office.
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