Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers!
1. Elizabeth Gaines leaves helloworld
Helloworld Limited today announced that the Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines, has provided notice of her intention to leave HLO.
Ms Gaines will continue in her role as Chief Executive Officer during the term of her six-month notice period, until such time as the Board has appointed a successor and there has been a smooth and orderly transition of responsibilities.
HLO Chairman, Brett Johnson, commented that “while we are disappointed, my Board colleagues and I respect Elizabeth’s decision to depart after more than seven years of dedicated service and would like to thank Elizabeth for her significant contribution to the Helloworld Group during that time”.
2. Four new additions to the World Journeys team
World Journeys’ Australian team has grown this week with four new talented staff members joining this week.
The announcement comes five months after the high-end company opened in Australia to provide customised itineraries to each State and Territory.
Providing support, Vanessa Hibbard, Joel Hiini-Neilson, Mei Ling Wong and Tracey Stewart were recruited and placed into new roles within the company.
3. Neil Rogers promoted to GM of Adventure World
The Travel Corporation (TTC) has confirmed the appointment of Neil Rodgers as General Manager (GM) of Adventure World Australia.
After more than a decade in the travel industry, spanning roles in marketing, sales and product, Rodgers will step-up to take on management of the business in Australia, effective immediately.
Commenting on the appointment, John Weeks CEO TTC Australia: “We are extremely pleased to announce Neil’s promotion to the role of General Manager, Adventure World Australia.
4. Virtuoso expands in Australia
Luxury travel network, Virtuoso, today announced the appointment of two new Business Development Managers (BDMs) in roles which will help the organisation meet the needs of its expanding membership in the Asia Pacific region.
“Our two new BDMs, Cristina Magni and Evan Pierce, have great, hands on experience in travel businesses and understand what our members are all about. They will no doubt be a great asset to Virtuoso and its members.”
“Cristina is joining Virtuoso from a background in luxury travel product marketing and sales including major international hotel chains and exclusive boutique properties and has recently worked to deliver buyer lists for the luxury travel trade show Luxperience.
“Evan has worked in travel sales and retail in the US, and with Infinity wholesale in Sydney where he has built great relationships within the travel industry that will serve him well in this BDM role.”
Mr Londregan (Pictured far right) said Virtuoso would be announcing its first new memberships in Asia over coming months.
5. Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji appoints new DOSM
Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji has appointed Ms Shashita Nand to the role of Director of Sales and Marketing.
Announcing the appointment, GM Karen Taylor said Ms Nand will take immediate responsibility for all aspects of the luxury all-villa boutique resort’s sales and marketing activity on an international basis.
Ms Nand will also work closely with US-based Auberge Resorts Collection which took over management of the resort last year and Australian-based sales representative World Resorts of Distinction.
A Fijian national Ms Nand’s credentials include senior sales and marketing roles with several international hotel chains and resorts in Australia, Fiji and Thailand.
These include Avista Hotels and Resorts (Thailand), Marriott International, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Outrigger on The Lagoon – Fiji, Vomo Island Resort (Fiji), Treasure Island Resort (Fiji) and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts.
Ms Nand’s appointment further bolsters the resort’s overall management team which in recent months has been strengthened with new Front Office Manager, Charlotte Steele and Director of Operations, Joakim Zetterberg.
6. Kiridara gets new General Manager
SilverNeedle Hospitality has appointed Yannis Amarantinis as the General Manager of Kiridara, a boutique hotel in central Luang Prabang, Laos, with effect from 1 June 2015.
Mr Amarantinis has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry and was most recently Resident Manager of Panwa Beach Resort by Marco Polo Hotels in Phuket, Thailand.
Prior to that, Mr Amarantinis held senior positions in Operations and Food and Beverage in Asia as well as in his native France.
7. Executive changes at HRG
Hogg Robinson Group has announced a number of Executive Committee appointments.
With immediate effect Kyle Ferguson, CEO Fraedom, Matthew Pancaldi, Global Client Management Director HRG, James Stevenson, Global Sales Director HRG, and Ian Windsor, Managing Director Europe HRG, join the senior Executive group consisting of Kevin Ruffles (COO), Bill Brindle (CIO), Keith Burgess (Company Secretary and General Counsel), with John Harvey continuing in his role as Group Marketing Director.
“I am delighted to welcome my new colleagues to the senior executive group.”
David Radcliffe, HRG CEO
“This is an exciting and dynamic industry we work in, and broadening the team will help give us greater speed of decision making and increased flexibility as we continue to take advantage of opportunities and pursue our strategy as an International services company, operating in corporate travel management and the software as a service sectors.”
8. Chappelle joins American Express GBT
American Express Global Business Travel (“GBT”) has appointed Kasey Chappelle to Global Privacy Officer and Director of Commercial Compliance.
In this role, Ms Chappelle, who was previously Global Privacy Counsel at Vodafone, will oversee GBT’s privacy programme, as well as be responsible for all marketing and commercial product compliance.
Ms Chappelle will report to GBT’s Chief Compliance & Risk Officer, Si-Yeon Kim, and work closely with Chief Commercial & Technology Officer, Philippe Chérèque, Vice President, Core Products and Platform Architecture, Christophe Tcheng, and Vice President, Digital Traveler, Evan Konwiser to ensure that appropriate controls and data protection measures are in place for GBT’s products and platforms, especially as GBT extends the integration of its propriety platforms with the company’s international network partners and third-party technology vendors for the benefits of its corporate customers.
In this leadership role, Ms. Chappelle guided the creation and adoption of the Vodafone privacy programme, an award-winning approach to strategic and operational privacy risk management.
Prior to her role at Vodafone, Ms. Chappelle was Global Privacy Director at eBay Inc., where she oversaw global consumer privacy and data protection compliance for all eBay Inc. companies, including worldwide e-commerce and payment platforms, mobile applications and advertising divisions.
Ms Chappelle began her legal career at Wilkie Farr & Gallagher, where she coordinated counsel globally on data protection and telecoms licensing issues for worldwide product rollouts and advised on regulatory and privacy compliance for multinational companies.
9. Oaks Hotels & Resorts appoints new CFO
Leading accommodation provider Oaks Hotels & Resorts, a division of Minor Hotel Group (MHG), is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Mr Dan Hastings as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer.
Based out of Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ Queensland offices, Mr Hastings will oversee the financial operations of the company as it continues to roll out its strategic acquisition and expansion plans under the direction of MHG.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Hastings served as the Chief Operations and Financial Officer for Spinifex Group, a leading international experience media agency, where he managed both the operations and financial functions for the business globally.
Other previous roles spanning 15 years include Partner at Hills Rogers Spencer Steer where he led the corporate advisory practice in mergers and acquisitions out of Sydney.
Mr Hastings’ appointment comes after Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ former Chief Financial Officer, Mr Brian Delaney, accepted a position in Bangkok with parent company Minor Hotel Group as its new Chief Financial Officer, who will oversee MHG’s extensive brand portfolio.
Mr Delaney joins Minor Hotel Group after a successful two-year tenure with Oaks Hotels & Resorts, following various senior finance roles at AMP and AMP Capital in Sydney, most recently as Head of Fund Accounting, and JPMorgan and Citibank in his native Ireland.
10. Kelvin Dodt appointed as General Manager Hotel
Echo Entertainment Group has announced the appointment of Kelvin Dodt to the position of General Manager Hotels – Queensland.
Commencing on 9 June, Kelvin brings an outstanding background in managing high-end hospitality product to the position, having been most recently general manager of Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa in Tropical North Queensland.
Prior to this, Kelvin was the Queensland Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Mirvac Hotel & Resorts, encompassing Mirvac’s 12 hotels and resorts within the region and leading the pre-opening teams of Quay West Resort & Spa in Noosa and Sea Temple Surfers Paradise (now Soul Surfers Paradise) on the Gold Coast.
Leaving behind the seaside village of Port Douglas, Kelvin is now based on the Gold Coast overseeing the daily management, operations and refurbishment of Jupiters’ 592-room hotel and Treasury’s 130-room heritage hotel.
Echo Entertainment Group Managing Director, Queensland, Geoff Hogg said Kelvin has broad experience in sales and marketing, reservations and rooms management which are elements critical to each hotel’s success.