Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers.
1. Ellen Bettridge heads up Uniworld
The former Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Azamara Club Cruises has crossed on over to river cruising as the new President and Chief Executive of Uniworld.
Ellen Bettridge succeeds Guy Young, who is being promoted to take on two new roles within The Travel Corporation (TTC).
Effective 6 August 2016, Bettridge will assume her new role, working closely alongside Young, to ensure a smooth transition for the team and the industry.
2. G Adventures welcomes new team member
G Adventures Australia and New Zealand has welcomed a new Trade Marketing Executive to ‘The Outpost’.
After five years in the travel industry Adelle Clements, who worked with the International Exchange Programs AU and NZ at STA Travel for two and a half years but began her tourism career at Ashcombe Maze on the Mornington Peninsula, will take over all agent and trade communications.
The newest member of the G Adventures team already has her eye on the National Geographic with G Adventures trip Wonders of Bhutan, but before she heads there she is excited to show more travellers and agents how G Adventures is a social enterprise, so that more inspired travellers can experience G Adventures’ unique styles of travel and give back to the local communities they are visiting.
“After being here for just four weeks I can already see how much potential there is for me to learn and grow both professionally and personally.”
Adelle
She said she was drawn to work at G because of the company’s belief that travel is an exchange, and that when you travel with G Adventures you are giving back more than you are taking away.
“I like that G is innovative, exciting, extremely unique and completely changing the way people experience and think about travel. Working at G makes you feel like you are really a part of something bigger.”
3. New appointment at DriveAway
DriveAway Holidays has appointed James Dowe to the role of digital marketing manager following increased activity with trade partners within the digital space.
Managing director Chris Hamill said that Mr Dowe’s key focus would be to develop more extensive growth and support of on-line activities with trade partners.
James has a passion for travel and has travelled extensively throughout Asia, USA, New Zealand and Europe.
When asked what excites him most about travel, James said: “Food is one of the reasons I love to travel along with experiencing other cultures”.
“The one thing I do enjoy about travelling is after a big holiday, coming home and reflecting on the trip itself. Travel makes me appreciate what I have,” he added.
In the past James has worked in similar roles with Cancer Council NSW, Nine MSN and Optus, and is extremely well versed in all things digital.
His strengths lie in using data to develop end-to-end strategy and plans to drive web traffic, conversions and brand awareness. James is eager to develop the internal digital team and is ready to make his mark in the travel industry by focussing on “growth and efficiency”.
4. New GM for COMO Maalifushi in the Maldives
COMO Hotels and Resorts has appointed Pietro Addis as the new General Manager of COMO Maalifushi, a private island resort offering luxury, surf, wellness and family adventures in the Maldives’ Thaa Atoll.
Pietro joins COMO from Aman Resorts, where he worked as Area Manager for Sri Lanka since December 2012.
During this time, he was responsible for the overall management of the two award-winning properties in Sri Lanka: Amangalla in Galle Fort, and Amanwella in Tangalle.
After graduating with an honours degree in history from the University of Manchester, Pietro started his career as an analyst with Dutch bank ABN AMRO in London. After two years, he moved into luxury travel, working with some of Britain’s leading operators, including Scott Dunn and Cazenove + Loyd.
5. Travel Counsellors invests in new staff
Travel Counsellors have added five new staff members to their Melbourne head office team. With new roles in commercial management, agency support, IT support and airline support all being filled by industry professionals, Travel Counsellors is in a strong position to further grow the brand in Australia and support the many agents choosing to join the Travel Counsellors network.
With extensive experience in commercial roles with Air New Zealand, Qantas Holidays, Flight Centre and Travel Scene American Express, as well as a Master of Business Management from the University of Western Australia, Aida Osta has stepped into the important role of Commercial Manager. Bringing a wealth of relevant experience, expert knowledge and industry know-how to the role.
Working in agency support roles, travel industry professionals Sam Puccio and Liz Wait will both work full-time from the Melbourne head office, supporting Travel Counsellors who need to leave their business for a period of time to go on holiday, fam trips or in times of sickness. Essentially, these roles provide the equivalent of holiday pay, a rare form of support for self-employed people. This innovative initiative indicates the high level of support the Travel Counsellors brand offers its network of home working agents.
Two other significant support roles round out the new additions to the Travel Counsellors head office team. With experience working at Concorde International Travel and Tempo Holidays, Dean Hickford brings extensive travel industry experience to his role as Airline Executive, while Rob Mason has come to the Melbourne head office fresh from working with the Travel Counsellors IT team in the UK.
David Hughes, Managing Director of Travel Counsellors Australia believes that the level of support Travel Counsellors agents receive is what makes the company such a success.
6. Hilton Sydney appoints new Director Of Business Development
Hilton Sydney has announced the appointment of Jens Frank-Mikkelsen as Director of Business Development. The Danish national commenced his job at the hotel in Sydney’s CBD on 14th June 2016.
In his role at Hilton Sydney, Mr Frank-Mikkelsen will be responsible for directing all aspects of the hotel’s commercial functions including Sales and Marketing, Conference and Event, Revenue, and Reservations.
Mr Frank-Mikkelsen has been part of the Hilton family for over 15 years and his experience includes directing the business development team at Hilton Phuket Arcadia. Prior to that, the 37-year old worked his way up the career ladder at Hilton Copenhagen Airport succeeding in various roles from Guest Service Agent to Director of Business Development.
“I’m looking forward to working for Hilton in such an iconic metropolitan city like Sydney,” he said.
“I hope to lead this team to meet new challenges and to consistently provide the highest level of service and quality to our valued guests.”
7. IHG’s Karin Sheppard appointed to Tourism Accommodation Australia Board
Karin Sheppard is IHG’s Chief Operating Officer for Australasia & Japan region, overseeing the operations and performance of some 70 hotels in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Japan across brands including the luxury InterContinental Hotels & Resorts; business and meetings focused Crowne Plaza and the midscale Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. She is also responsible for the regional operations teams based in Sydney and Tokyo.
Over the course of her 15 years with IHG, Karin has held senior commercial roles in Australasia, Europe and the Middle East. Before taking on her current role, she was Chief Commercial Officer for Asia, Middle East & Africa based in Singapore, where she led key commercial functions including Brand Management, Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management.
TAA Chairman, Martin Ferguson, welcomed Karin Sheppard to the TAA Board, saying that she would add a wealth of experience and professional knowledge to the organisation.
IHG COO Australasia & Japan, Karin Sheppard said she was delighted to join the TAA Board.
Ms Sheppard joins a highly credentialed Board, chaired by Martin Ferguson and comprising leading hotel executives from global and national groups including Hyatt, Crown, Starwood, Hilton and Event Hospitality & Entertainment.
8. Kirsty Thomas-Thoeun joins Trails of Indochina Australia
Trails of Indochina announce the expansion of trade support with the appointment of Kirsty Thomas- Thoeun as Director of Sales & Business Development (Australia & NZ) located in Victoria.
For the past 20 years, Asia has captivated Kirsty where she has travelled extensively within all South East Asian destinations.
Having raised her half-Khmer children with an appreciation for their heritage, Cambodia remains a special part of Kirsty’s life, she knows the destination intimately.
Understanding Khmer history & culture, Kirsty has experienced the change in Cambodia from its tourism infancy until today where it stands as one of Asia’s top destinations. Aside from Cambodia, other favourite destinations include Luang Prabang, Inle Lake, Ubud, Chiang Mai & the Sichuan Province of China where she has travelled extensively.
With a solid career as a Luxury Travel Advisor & Asia Travel Specialist, Kirsty understands clients and the changing needs of both retail travel agencies and the growing number of home based Travel Advisors. Kirsty replaces Lindy Andrews having completed her yearlong contract in June. Kirsty is assisted by Mr Tony Ho (Sydney based) whom has stepped up as Business Development Manager after 6 years in a supporting role in NSW.
9. Visit Sunshine Coast appoints new CEO
Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) Chair, Grant Hunt, announced today that Simon Latchford had been appointed as the regional tourism organisation’s new Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Latchford, who has been with VSC as Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships for the past two years, had been acting in the role of CEO for the past 10 weeks. His appointment by the VSC Board followed a comprehensive, nationwide recruitment process.
Announcing the appointment, Chair of VSC, Grant Hunt said: “The search for a new CEO attracted an exceptional field of candidates from within Australia and overseas. We see this as a reflection of the reputation and industry-standing the organisation has achieved over recent years.
“Simon’s ability to forge strong relationships and partnerships, coupled with his innovative approach to marketing, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the organisation into the future.”
Mr Latchford has a strong background in tourism management, industry development, aviation, marketing, branding, events and special high profile projects. He has held senior positions in the marketing and strategic development of leading destinations such as the Whitsundays, regional Victoria and formerly as the Group Marketing and Destination Development Manager for Margaret River Tourism in Western Australia.
Simon Latchford replaces Simon Ambrose, who was CEO from 2013 and played an important role in establishing the Sunshine Coast as one of Australia’s fastest growing tourism regions over the past three years. Mr Ambrose recently relocated to Melbourne where he has taken up an exciting role as CEO of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).