Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers!
1. Norwegian steals Silversea head for Aus office
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the opening of an Australian office, which will be headed by the current Silversea Asia Pacific President, Steve Odell.
Commencing from 1 October, he and his sales team will represent Norwegian as well as Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, which Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings purchased from Prestige last year.
2. Schuster heads up Virgin’s Velocity
Virgin Australia is flying its frequent flyer program into the future, with the appointment of Karl Schuster as Velocity’s new Chief Executive Officer.
Announced today, Mr Schuster joins the loyalty program after serving as Managing Director of Carlson Marketing Group Australia and New Zealand based in Sydney for five years.
In 2006 he was promoted to President of the Asia Pacific region. Following the acquisition of Carlson Marketing by Aimia in late 2009, he was re-located to Singapore to oversee the development of Aimia’s business in Asia where he led the implementation of some of the largest and most successful loyalty programs across the airline, financial services and retail sectors as well as leading a number of Aimia investment initiatives in the region.
3. Travel Counsellors appoints new BDE
Travel Counsellors has added a new staff member to the head office team, with Simon Gatt joining the Travel Counsellors family in the role of Business Development Executive.
Simon will work alongside Business Development Executives Adele Barbaro and Chriss Perry to provide advice, support and motivation to Travel Counsellors agents based in home offices all over Australia.
With years of experience working in the travel industry, Simon’s most recent role was at Qantas. Focusing on both the corporate and leisure travel sector, this important role will see Simon develop and mentor Travel Counsellors agents around Australia.
With an aim to drive and promote business growth and build relationships with Travel Counsellors agents, Simon’s appointment indicates Travel Counsellors commitment to supporting its network of agents by providing opportunities to strengthen and grow their business in new ways.
Simon started with Travel Counsellors this week and while he will be based out of the Travel Counsellors head office located in Melbourne, his role involves extensive interstate travel.
4. New CEO heads up Air Seychelles
Roy Kinnear (left) and Joël Morgan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport (right).
Roy Kinnear, a former executive at Etihad Airways, has stepped into the role of CEO of Air Seychelles.
He moves from his position as Senior Vice President – Revenue Management and Planning with the UAE carrier.
In his old role he was responsible for leading the airline’s revenue management, inventory control, pricing, and revenue forecasting.
During his three decades in the airline industry, Mr Kinnear has earned a reputation for delivering leading practice across the commercial and financial operations of the business, driving both revenue and profit.
5. AccorHotels recruits Louise Daley
Louise Daley has been named Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer AccorHotels Asia Pacific.
Having worked at AccorHotels for 25 years in senior executive roles and as the company’s representative on joint venture businesses, Louise was previously CEO for Accor Plus, the group’s loyalty subscription program in Asia Pacific.
Under Louise’s leadership, Accor Plus grew to 45 sales offices in 11 countries and membership expanded more than 30 percent.
Prior to this, Louise was CFO for Accor in the Pacific, as well as being Director of Accor’s joint ventures Accor Vacation Club, Reef Casino Cairns (a public company), Executive Health Solutions and Accor Advantage Plus. In addition to these roles, she was Chairman of the Accor Corporate Social Responsibility Committee in the Pacific.
Louise now takes on one of the most senior roles within AccorHotels Asia Pacific, working closely with Chairman and CEO, Michael Issenberg and the executive team.
6. Mulia returns to Wego
Rick Mulia will be returning to Wego’s Singapore headquarters in the position of Chief Advertising & Media Officer.
Previously, Mulia established Wego’s Audience Engagement Platform in 2013, followed by the Wego Private Marketplace, building the company’s extensive ad technology stack while creating opportunities designed to benefit clients with travel businesses, as well as agencies and trading desks.
Mulia’s responsibilities in his new role with Wego will see him lead the company’s advertising and media business globally.
“Rick is a well-respected digital professional with a rare combination of technical, sales and managerial skills that make him the perfect choice to develop and deliver advertising solutions for Wego’s travel industry clients.”
Ross Veitch, Wego CEO and C0-founder
Mulia returns to Singapore after relocating to Jakarta towards the end of 2014 to launch the Indonesian office of Twitter, and is a former MSN and Yahoo! veteran.
7. MTA introduces new Air Product Manager
MTA – Mobile Travel Agents has appointed Suzana Blazevska to the role of Air Product Manager with immediate effect.
Ms Blazevska joins MTA with more than 20 years industry experience encompassing roles with Travelscene, STA Travel and more recently as National Air & Product Executive for Travel Counsellors.
Announcing the new appointment MTA CEO, Don Beattie said a key component of Ms Blazevska’s role will be to work closely with senior management in handling contractual negotiations and managing relationships with the company’s airline partners.
“Suzana is a great addition to our already recognised leading support team.”
Don Beattie, MTA CEO
8. New GM for Jakarta joins Pan Pacific
Pan Pacific Hotels Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Rossilli as General Manager of Sari Pan Pacific Jakarta after a three-year tenure as General Manager of Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore.
The 39 year-old Sari Pan Pacific Jakarta boasts of an unrivalled brand heritage as the first Pan Pacific hotel in the world. Strategically located in the heart of Jakarta’s financial district, it has become well-established as a hospitality icon in the city.
Dean brings over 20 years of industry experience in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, United States and United Kingdom to drive the competitiveness and holistic performance of Sari Pan Pacific Jakarta.
He has held a broad spectrum of management and operations leadership positions with Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, MacDonald Hotels, Marriott Hotels and Thistle/Guoman Hotels and Resorts.
Prior to his current appointment, Dean spent almost three years as General Manager of Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore.
With enthusiasm and dedication, he led the 206-room hotel to achieve higher levels of financial performance, guest satisfaction and industry recognition after its S$10 million rejuventation in 2012.
As a testament to the property’s success, it was named among the Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Singapore at the 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Hotels awards.
9. Meet the new Chief Concierge at Gold Coast Resort
Christian Espino has commenced his new role as Chief Concierge at this luxurious Gold Coast Resort.
As well as being a member of the exclusive Les Clefs d’Or, Christian brings with him a wealth of international experience and after working in some of the most bustling hotels in the world, he is looking forward to setting into a resort that he considers ‘close to paradise.’
Christian’s most recent post was The Mira Hong Kong where he spent four years as Chief Concierge and prior to that held the position of Duty Manager in the same multi-award winning hotel.
With 20 years experience in the hospitality industry, Christian has worked on hotel pre-openings, in hotel operations and Concierge and Guest Services.
Christian’s impressive list of qualifications includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Major in Advertising, certificates in Strategic Hospitality Management and Situational Leadership, and completion of a Professional Butlers program.