Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers.
1. Insight Vacations announces three key new hires
Insight Vacations has announced three new appointments to its Australian team with Karen Deveson joining as the new Head of Marketing at the end of the month, and two new Sales Managers, Yvette Montell and Andy Roberts already in situ.
Karen Deveson brings over 20 years marketing experience to Insight Vacations working predominantly across publishing and media. Karen’s last position at Seven West Media saw her develop and lead the business, marketing and digital strategy across key Pacific Magazines homes and health titles.
Karen commences in her role, based in Sydney, on 30 May.
Insight Vacations’ sales team has also seen a boost with the appointment of Yvette Montell to the role of Sales Manager Victoria, based in Melbourne and the return of Andy Roberts to the position of Sales Manager NSW/ACT after spending the past two years in his native Britain. Andy has over 11 years’ experience representing Insight Vacations both in the UK and Australia so will not only bring his strong sales skills, but very thorough brand knowledge to the team.
Yvette comes from a strong retail background having worked as a consultant in a number of Flight Centre and Escape Travel stores in suburban Melbourne. Yvette has travelled extensively and has had a varied and interesting career, having also worked in the USA, UK, Switzerland and France.
2. Arlene Schieven heads up Tourism Sun Peaks
Tourism Sun Peaks has announced Arlene Schieven will be returning home to British Columbia as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the destination marketing organisation for Canada’s second largest ski resort.
Schieven, who is currently the President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Sun Valley Marketing Alliance in Idaho, replaces Christopher Nicolson who recently joined the Canada West Ski Areas Association as President and CEO.
In addition to Sun Valley, Schieven was previously Vice-President of Marketing at Tourism Whistler, head of the Tourism Marketing Management Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, an MBA marketing instructor at Royal Roads University, and a long-time tourism marketing and research consultant with destinations such as Banff, Lake Louise, Vancouver, and Penticton. Extensive work on the 2010 Olympic Games portfolio adds to her comprehensive and impressive background.
3. COMO Hotels & Resorts appoints new Senior Management Team in the Americas & Bali
Singapore-based luxury hotel group COMO Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of three new General Managers, who will oversee day-to-day operations at COMO Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos, COMO Metropolitan Miami Beach in Florida, and Bali’s COMO Shambhala Estate.
The Northern Caribbean’s pre-eminent private island will be managed by Dant Hirsch in the role of Regional General Manager. Dant will also be taking charge of COMO’s sister property in the Sunshine State, COMO Metropolitan Miami Beach. Dant is a Canadian national. He joins the COMO family after his recent role as General Manager at the Faena Hotel Miami with experience gained managing luxury hotels for The Ritz-Carlton group and Starwood’s prestigious St Regis Hotels and Resorts. Dant takes pride in striving for excellence; he will focus on the resort and its private residences.
The group’s Miami hotel, which is COMO’s first US property, will be managed by Henry Giovanni Scott. Henry, who has worked previously for Aman in Sri Lanka and Montenegro, is joining COMO from Nobu Hotel Eden Roc Miami Beach, where he oversaw a multi-million-dollar renovation project for the company.
Miami’s current General Manager, Javier Beneyto, is transferring to Bali after a very successful opening of the hotel, positioning COMO Metropolitan, Miami Beach amongst the top five on TripAdvisor. Javier will lead the opening of COMO’s latest development projects, COMO Echo Beach, Bali with a scheduled launch in 2017.
Simultaneously, the group announces the appointment of Santiago Sagaz as new General Manager for COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali. Santiago joins COMO Shambhala Estate with over two decades experience in the hospitality industry. He recently held the position of General Manager at the award winning Bulgari Resort in Bali.
4. CWT appoints new Country Director in Thailand
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) today announced that Duangdej Yuaikwarmdee has been appointed Country Director, CWT Thailand, effective immediately.
Reporting to Kai Chan, CWT’s President for Asia Pacific, Yuaikwarmdee will be a member of CWT’s Southeast Asia leadership team. He will be based in Bangkok.
As Country Director, Yuaikwarmdee leads the CWT Thailand team and will be responsible for growing CWT’s business in the market.
Yuaikwarmdee has strong experience in business management and development, sales, marketing and account management. He has worked with American Express Thailand, US Kall International Corporation and Reed Tradex. Before joining CWT, Yuaikwarmdee was Deputy Managing Director of Reed Tradex Thailand and General Manager of Reed Tradex Vietnam.
Yuaikwarmdee is a graduate of Birkbeck College, University of London and Middlesex University UK, and holds Masters Degrees in Organization Behaviour and Management, as well as Marketing Management.
5. Wendy Wu Tours appoints new local boss
It’s almost the end of an era, with Wendy Wu Tours Australia’s Alan Alcock announcing his departure from the company after 13 years with the company.
The Managing Director said he’s stepping back from the business by vacating the head role, but will continue to work full time for Wendy Wu on global projects such as developing product. He’ll also remain in the industry as a non-executive director for local and global brands.
Officially taking over the reins from mid-June is industry veteran Andrew Mulholland who will be responsible for Australia and New Zealand.