Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers.
1. Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau appoints new Int’l Tourism Sales Manager
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Yau as International Tourism Sales Manager.
In this role, Yau will be continuing the PHLCVB’s efforts of promoting Philadelphia throughout the Asia Pacific region to international travelers, with the goal of increasing visitation and tourism spending. He will work with tour operators encouraging them to include Philadelphia as part of their itineraries and is charged with expanding Philadelphia’s presence at major tradeshows and events; leading to greater exposure for the city to an international audience.
Seven other Asia Pacific countries (Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan) are also part of the visa waiver program, increasingly making the U.S. a more accessible and popular destination.
Yau joins the PHLCVB following his recent role as Tourism Sales Manager at Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. His previous work experiences include working with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Korff Enterprise in New York City.
Yau has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Psychology and studied Australian studies in Melbourne, Australia. He is also a certified travel industry specialist.
2. Trafalgar appoints new Sales Manager
Trafalgar has announced the appointment of Aimee Cruickshank to the position of Sales Manager – NSW after five years of being in the company.
Aimee came to TTC in 2011 straight out of high school, to join the documentation team. While there, she was asked to spend a few weeks in res-support, but never looked back. She then progressed to the Trafalgar Reservations Team and in August 2013 she was promoted to Inside Sales Coordinator, a position she has excelled at in the last three years. As a result, Aimee is now celebrating a well-deserved promotion to Sales Manager for NSW, Trafalgar.
“I love working for a company and brand that I truly believe-in, which cares about what we are offering to the world,” she said.
“Everyone in the team, no matter what role they play, loves what they do and is there for the same reason. To share our love for travel, sell amazing holidays and help people experience their dreams.”
3. Choice Hotels to strengthen its pipeline of hotels with new hire
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac announced the appointment of Frank Scerri as its new National Development Manager.
In the newly created position, Mr Scerri will be in charge of continuing Choice Hotels’ drive towards adding new properties to its portfolio. Utilising his previous experience in property development and project marketing, Mr Scerri will spearhead high-valued property deals, including multi-units and groups, as well as new build developments.
The newly created position comes on the heels of Choice Hotels announcing its strong results for the previous 12 months, including the best quarter for development this decade.
With demand for domestic[1] and international[2] overnight trips growing by more than 8 percent in the last year, Mr Scerri’s experience will play a key role in ensuring Choice Hotels grows its portfolio in line with consumer needs.
Prior to joining Choice Hotels, Mr Scerri held positions in retail travel, brand development, business development, and sales and marketing within the tourism industry. Mr Scerri’s experience in tourism, coupled with his property development and project marketing skills, provides Choice with well-rounded insight on how best to further build its portfolio of franchisees through existing properties and new developments.
4. Singapore Tourism’s new hire focuses on MICE
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is pleased to welcome Meliana Halim as its new Manager Oceania across Australia and New Zealand.
Based in the Sydney regional office, Meliana will be managing the MICE[1] portfolio, helping to maintain the destination’s reputation as Asia’s most prized and award-winning[2] business and conference hub.
Meliana’s new role, reporting to the Area Director Oceania, will include implementing and developing business strategies for the MICE segment. These initiatives have been designed to raise awareness and drive consideration of Singapore as a destination that is constantly evolving with new, exciting offerings, while still retaining its unique cultural charm.
Her appointment comes as STB Oceania launched a new initiative, Meetings & Incentives STARS, at their MasterMICE networking events in Sydney and Melbourne last week. The new award scheme offers MICE intermediaries star points based on bookings and group numbers, which can be redeemed for cash incentives.
Meliana brings over 15 years of travel and tourism industry experience to the Oceania team, including existing relationships with wholesalers, airlines, hoteliers, conference organisers, Destination Management Companies (DMC), National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and trade shows. Prior to joining Singapore Tourism Board, Meliana was the Senior Sales Manger for Australia at Warwick Hotels & Resorts, managing B2B, B2C and groups for their six South Pacific properties. Meliana also spent time at Air Pacific (now Fiji Airlines) as their National Sales Manager for MICE and groups.
5. SALA Hospitality Group appoints Cluster General Manager
SALA Hospitality Group has appointmented Volkert Geertsen as Cluster General Manager for sala boutique, the group’s growing collection of charming boutique hotels and residences located throughout Thailand.
Mr. Geertsen will oversee the four existing sala boutique branded properties, including sala rattanakosin in Bangkok, sala lanna in Chiang Mai, sala ayutthaya and sala khaoyai, as well as all sala boutique projects under development.
Mr. Geertsen, a Dutch national, brings a wealth of hospitality industry experience to his new position with SALA. He spent the past 4 ½ years with Minor Hotel Group at the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort, first as Director of Sales and Marketing, and most recently as Hotel Manager. Prior to that he spent four years in senior level sales and marketing positions with Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Thailand.
He also spent eight years with Marriott, beginning his career in various Food and Beverage positions at the Amsterdam Marriott in his native Holland, and then moving to Thailand in 2005, overseeing leisure sales and marketing with the JW Marriott Phuket and Renaissance Koh Samui.
6. Visit USA announces new Secretariat
On receiving many high calibre submissions and after a rigorous selection process, the Visit USA (Australia) Organisation is pleased to announce the appointment of Twin Islands Group as its secretariat as of 1 September 2016.
Twin Islands Group’s management has extensive industry expertise especially in the USA tourism arena. Business partners Clinton White and Karen Prideaux have worked for many years for high profile tourism products such as Disney and Los Angeles Tourism and Conventions Board.
Clinton will be responsible for the administration aspects of Visit USA and Karen will organise all events and roadshows on behalf of the organisation.
The current secretariat, Mike Lillie, will complete an in depth month-long handover with the Twin Islands Group and complete his contract with Visit USA on 30 September 2016.
After twelve years, Mike has decided take a cut back on his work commitments and retire from full time contracts. Mike has been a stalwart for Visit USA over these many years. Its committee and members wish to sincerely thank Mike for his dedication and expertise during his time as secretariat and to wish him well as he moves in to the next phase of his career.
7. SureSave has a new BDM in Victoria
SureSave, a leading provider of travel insurance and emergency assistance within the agency channel, is pleased to welcome Kate James as its new Business Development Manager (BDM) in Victoria.
Kate’s new role at SureSave will see her drive growth for the travel insurance company, which already insures 300,000 Australians every year.
With a career spanning over 20 years in the travel industry, Kate has a wealth of experience in sales management, customer and agent relations, travel consultancy and business development. Previously, Kate held the position of Sales and Business Development Manager at a leading travel insurance company from 2010 to 2013. Prior to this, Kate was Team Leader at one of Australia’s leading travel agents. Since then Kate has been working at one of Australia’s leading agency groups as a Sales and Development Coach, as well as an Agency Manager.