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MOVERS & SHAKERS: FIND OUT WHO GOT A NEW GIG AT INSIGHT VACATIONS, WENDY WU TOURS & MORE

Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers below or click here to check out last week’s new appointments.

Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers below or click here to check out last week’s new appointments.

1. Meet Gina Fernandez, Wendy Wu Tours’ new BDM

movers & shakers

Australia’s leading Asia tour operator, and recent winner of the NTIA Best Speciality Wholesaler 2017 is delighted to announce the appointment of Gina Fernandez to the role of Business Development Manager for NSW.

Gina joins the Wendy Wu Tours team with broad travel industry experience, including travel technology (Sabre and Tramada), Travel Insurance (SureSave) and Corporate Travel (Corporate Traveller).

Gina also spent many years running her own travel agent in the retail and online space. On the appointment, Gina said: “As a Business Development Manager for Wendy Wu Tours, I am excited to call on my first hand experience to effectively support our valuable customers and be a part of their success stories.”

Head of Sales, Vara Glover said of the appointment “Gina’s vast experience in the sector, combined with her firsthand understanding of travel agent needs, will give her travel agents the support they need to help grow their business. Wendy Wu Tours is committed to supporting our trade partners, as evidenced by our recent Early Birds Priority Access. My sales team and I look forward to rolling out further tools for the trade.”

 

2. Meet Shirley Hollingsworth, Tjapukai’s Deputy General Manager

movers & shakers

Djabugay descendant Shirley Hollingsworth of the Buluwai Clan has been appointed Tjapukai Deputy General Manager after two decades of working at the Aboriginal cultural park in Cairns.

Tjapukai General Manager Bryce Madgwick congratulated Ms Hollingsworth who joined the tourism operator as a casual junior retail assistant in 1997 with the goal of acquiring the business knowledge necessary for a successful career as an artist.

“I couldn’t do what I do without Shirley. I never make a decision without referring to her first because the cultural and operational knowledge she holds is phenomenal,” Mr Madgwick said.

“I hope to one day step aside for Shirley as the long-term goal is to hand the operation of Tjapukai over to the Traditional Owners.

“Appointed Performance and Retail Manager in June 2016, Shirley’s previous roles included Visitor Experience Manager, Guest Services Manager and Gallery Manager.

“She undertook her Certificate 1, 2 and 3 in Retail, a Certificate 4 in Frontline Management and a Diploma of Management through Tjapukai.

“In recent years, Shirley has undertaken conflict and resolution training and one-on-one management training which involved mentoring with an external coach brought on-site.

“Djabugay people have been the backbone of the Tjapukai business since it was launched in 1987 as a vehicle to share their culture and create employment for their people.

“Currently 72 per cent of our 63 staff are Indigenous and 11 of them work in management roles.”

Ms Hollingsworth said she was motivated by the Djabugay elders who helped create Tjapukai especially her late mother Ruth Hollingsworth who was born and grew up on Mona Mona Mission on the outskirts of Kuranda in the rainforest of Tropical North Queensland.

 

3. Meet Insight Vacations’ 3 new appointments

movers & shakers

Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold have announced three new appointments, working across sales and marketing for both award-winning brands.

Angela Middleton has been appointed as Insight’s new Head of Sales, following David Farrar’s move to Director of Sales for Luxury Gold earlier this month. With 10 years of experience at Virgin Australia in numerous roles, Middleton brings with her a wealth of knowledge and an outstanding reputation within the industry. Also a current committee member and mentor for upcoming travel industry professionals for TIME (Travel Industry Mentor Experience), Middleton is passionate about growing and developing her team.

movers & shakers

Insight’s marketing team, a finalist in this year’s Mumbrella Travel Marketing Awards, will be strengthened even further with the appointment of Claire Haggarty as Trade Marketing Manager. Claire joins from APT where she was the Business Development Manager in Sydney and Canberra. Haggarty brings first-hand experience working within premium travel. She is a solutions focused operator who understands what agents need to succeed.

Samuel Rutledge will take on the role as Sales Manager in Victoria. Having recently moved to Australia from the US, Rutledge started his TTC career as a Tour Director for Contiki, Trafalgar and Insight Vacations before moving onto a District Sales Manager role for Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold in Utah, Colorado and Nevada. His wealth of first-hand knowledge will be invaluable, and he will be able to provide agents with a greater understanding of what their guests will experience when traveling with Insight.

movers & shakers

Commenting on the growth, Alexandra O’Connor, Managing Director for Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold stated: “We are excited about the future success of Insight and Luxury Gold. Angela, Claire and Samuel are high calibre appointments; the balance of their experience, knowledge and expertise will set us up for a successful year ahead.”

 

4. Meet Beth Scott, Dubai Tourism’s Regional Sales Manager

The Dubai Tourism, Australia and New Zealand Office has today announced the appointment of its newest Regional Sales Manager, Beth Scott.

Scott is based in Melbourne and will spearhead the Victorian, Tasmanian, and New Zealand territories, and manage a portfolio of trade relationships in these markets, including but not limited to Airline, Retail, Wholesale, OTA’s, Corporates and MICE.

As an e-commerce, digital marketing and travel sales professional, Scott joins the team with over 15 years of experience in the airline and travel and tourism sector across the Australia and New Zealand region. Starting her career at Qantas before moving to Emirates Airlines for five years, both in New Zealand looking after a trade and corporate portfolio, followed by a national e-commerce role based in Melbourne, Scott then spent two years with the Lufthansa Group Australia as Manager for Marketing and Online Sales for Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines and Austrian Airlines. She also recently completed a short term with Qatar Airways based out of Doha looking after Global Markets in an E-Commerce management role.

Scott’s experience has seen her manage corporate and trade portfolios, TMC’s, OTA’s, MICE and managing Tourism Board relationships.

Of her recent appointment, Scott said: “I am thrilled to take on this new role with Julie King & Associates, joining the regional sales team in Australia and New Zealand, looking after Dubai Tourism. I love Dubai; it’s a place where the modern meets the rich Arabic traditions and culture. My previous roles with airlines and in particular with Qantas and Emirates and my experience living and working in the Middle East will provide a strong foundation in my new role as we continue to further strengthen our partnerships with the Travel Trade throughout the Australian and New Zealand markets.”

Julie King, Director of the Australian and New Zealand office said: “Beth’s strong experience in both the retail, corporate and OTA sectors as well as her knowledge of Dubai as a destination will be an invaluable addition and asset to the company. We are thrilled to have her join the regional sales team in Australia and New Zealand as we continue to further strengthen and cement our partnerships with the trade, and continue to set high benchmarks in everything we do.”

 

5. Meet David Reeves, Constallation Journeys NSW Senior Sales Representative

Constellation Journeys has appointed senior sales representation in New South Wales and Queensland. David Reeves, a specialist with more than 35 years experience in travel product sales and marketing will represent the company in New South Wales.

Larry Burrows, a specialist with extensive experience representing tour operators and wholesalers, will market Constellation Journeys in Queensland and Northern Territory.

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