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Who were this week's travel industry movers & shakers?

Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers!

Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers!

 

 

1. Accor expands communications with new staff

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Accor has expanded its communications team, with two new appointment Janelle Neeve and Rocky Rosebery.

Janelle has stepped into the role of Communications Manager, while Rocky heads up the company’s social media profile as Social Media and Communication Coordinator.

Janelle will assist to implement Accor’s communication strategy, managing events and campaigns to promote Accor and its hotel brands across Australia, Pacific.

Read on

 

2. AAT expands team with two new members

AAT Kings

AAT Kings Tours has announced two new appointments – Takahiro Kondo will take up the newly created position of Senior Sales Manager Asia, and Katie Laird has been promoted to Manager International Operations.

Takahiro has been promoted to the position of Senior Sales Manager Asia with responsibility for all Asian markets including Japan.

He takes on the role after many years working with the Japanese market.

He first joined AAT Kings as a Japanese-speaking guide then progressed to product development, operations and sales roles, and recently celebrated a 15 year milestone with AAT Kings.

Like Takahiro, Katie has been involved in many facets of the AAT Kings business, including reservations, operations, product, and most recently in a business development role focusing on the inbound market and OTAs.

Both Takahiro and Katie will share responsibility for onshore Inbound Tour Operators with Takahiro taking the lead on Eastern Hemisphere and Katie on Western Hemisphere.

Takahiro and Katie have hit the ground running with their appointments taking effect immediately.

They will continue to report into Fleur Ulbrick, Head of International Sales at AAT Kings.

 

3. New GMs & sales reps at Mantra

Mantra 1

Mantra Group have experienced unprecedented growth resulting in opportunities for new and existing employees, including key General Manager movements and new staff appointments to the National Sales Team.

Ryan Newton has been appointed as General Manager, Mantra Legends Hotel, Surfers Paradise. Ryan has over seven years’ experience with the Group having held positions at Mantra Mooloolaba Beach, Mantra PortSea and Peppers Beach Club &Spa.

Given his experience in banquet management, Ryan will bring a wealth of knowledge to this iconic property, popular with conferences and group bookings.

Further General Manager movements will also take place on the Sunshine Coast with Nole Beardwood, currently General Manger at BreakFree Alexandra Beach Resort, transferring to the popular Mantra French Quarter Noosa.

Nole’s move makes way for Cosimo Ronconi to take over the reins at BreakFree Alexandra Beach Resort after three successful years at as General Manager at BreakFree Grand Pacific, Caloundra.

Mantra 2

A number of key appointments have also been made in the Mantra Group sales team.

Returning to Mantra Group; Lucy Rawcliffe, has taken on the position of National Sales Manager – Consortia Partnerships.

With her extensive experience with large travel consortiums and client management, Lucy is an ideal fit back within the Group, based in the Sydney Corporate Sales office.

Matt McGrath has also joined the sales team as National Account Manager – MICE.  Matt has extensive experience in all areas of hotel operations; having worked his entire career in resorts and hotels.

Previously employed at the Marriott Surfers Paradise and Couran Cove Resorts, Matt will be responsible for driving business development for conferencing and incentives for the Group, based in the Gold Coast office.

Lauren Bencina is Mantra Group’s newly appointed Area Sales Manager VIC/TAS.  With a strong background in sales and experience within the travel industry from her days at AMEX and Voyager Travel, Lauren will be a true asset to the team.

 

4. Rusden steps into VP role at Hertz

Hertz

The Hertz Corporationthe has announced the appointment of Chris Rusden to the position of  Vice President of Hertz, Asia Pacific (APAC).

During his 17 years with Hertz and in his previous role as Vice President, Australia and New Zealand, Chris gained a profound understanding of the APAC region.

The appointment to Vice President of the consolidated team will see Chris working throughout the APAC region to align strategy and resources across the Hertz brands.

The alignment aims to consolidate functions and resources across APAC whilst also providing development and career opportunities for employees by creating a multi-cultural and multi-national management group.

 

5. Novotel Cairns expands sales department

Novotel

Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort in North Queensland has welcomed two new members to its Sales & Marketing department.

Jayne Martin has joined as the hotel’s new Business Development Manager and Monique Wheeler as Sales & Marketing Co-Ordinator and Corporate Sales Executive.

Fresh to the hospitality industry, Jayne brings to her new role a wealth of experience in business following positions with The Cairns Post, Sensis Advertising and Telstra Business Clients.

Jayne has an intimate knowledge of the Cairns Business establishment with years of experience and a great corporate partner profile in the local region, from Cairns to Townsville, Cape York, and out to regional QLD areas.

Monique Wheeler comes to Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort from the Cairns Convention Centre, and brings with her a vast knowledge and terrific understanding of the MICE market in Cairns and surrounds.

 

5. Mohan Chandra Appointed to Top Fiji Airways Post in NZ

Fiji Airways has appointed Mohan Chandra as its new Regional General Manager for New Zealand.

Chandra is an Aviation industry veteran who takes up the role previously held by the late Shannon Currie.

Chandra was most recently Commercial Director for Kenya Airways, based in Kenya, where he was responsible for Worldwide Sales, Revenue Management, Network Planning  and Marketing.

Chandra will be responsible for all Sales across New Zealand for Fiji Airways as well as managing agent and supplier relationships.

He has also worked for Emirates and KLM, and worked in the Middle East and Asian markets.

Along with a Commercial Pilot License from New Zealand, Chandra also holds an Executive Management Diploma on Management, Finance, Marketing & Leadership from American Management Association, and a Diploma in Aviation Airline Transport Endorsement.

To further strengthen its Sales Operations in New Zealand, Fiji Airways has also appointed Melanie Watson as Manager Sales.

This role will assist the Regional General Manager and focus on business growth.

Watson started her career in the travel industry at Gulliver’s Travel (now Stella Travel) in 1988, and until recently managed the New Zealand Carlson Wagonlit Travel office.

Both Chandra and Watson officially started on 2 June.

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