Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers!
1. Fiji Airways appoints David Bowden as Acting CEO
Fiji Airways Group Chairman Nalin Patel announced the appointment of David Bowden as Acting Chief Executive, effective immediately.
Bowden, who is the airline’s Chief Financial Officer, will act as CEO until Andre Viljoen takes office by 1 October.
Bowden is a qualified chartered accountant having trained with Ernst & Young in the UK who has over 10 years airline and holidays & leisure experience.
He has previously held senior finance positions at Air2000, First Choice Airways, Thomson Airways, AstraZeneca and was most recently Chief Financial Officer with bmi a privately owned airline post the acquisition from IAG.
“David’s appointment will ensure there’s business continuity and alignment in the interim period before Andre takes up the role.”
Nalin Patel, Fiji Airways Group Chairman
“He will lead the senior management team with the full support of the board as necessary,” he said.
“David is an experienced aviation executive who has the necessary qualities to lead our National Airline in this interim period.”
2. Outrigger Resorts makes four appointments in Asia
Outrigger Resorts Asia Pacific has announced four recent management appointments.
At the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort in Thailand, Leah Matters has been appointed as Resort Manager.
Matters has been with Outrigger for seven years, the last three as General Manager of the Outrigger Twin Towns Resort in Queensland. Before joining Outrigger, Matters, an Australian national, was General Manager at the Sands Management Group.
Also at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort Haydee Cruz has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing.
With over 20 years of experience, Cruz, who is from the Dominican Republic, started her career at the Sheraton and has since held senor sales positions with Marriott and Accor and has had previous Thailand experience as Group Director of Sales for the Marriott and Anantara Cluster based in Bangkok.
At the Outrigger Asia Pacific head office in Phuket, Catherine Lim has been appointed as Marketing and Ecommerce Manager for Asia Pacific.
Lim, a Singaporean national, has broad experience in marketing and marketing communications, sales, sponsorships and publicity across a number of sectors in Asia. She recently spent three years in Cambodia as a Web and Marketing Communications manager.
Also in Phuket, Supanee Tanvivatjinda, a Thai national, has been appointed Financial Controller at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas.
With over 10 years’ experience in finance, Supanee has worked at Novotel Coralia Phuket, Laguna Beach Resort Phuket, Laguna Holiday Club Resort and most recently at Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket. In her new role she will provide vision and leadership in the development of finance functions and ensure adherence to the resort’s financial strategic objectives.
3. Tricia Cornelius to lead Starwood’s sales office in Brisbane
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has appointed Tricia Cornelius as Director of Starwood’s new sales organisation based in Brisbane.
In her new role, Tricia will manage and oversee the opening of Starwood Sales Organisation (SSO) Brisbane, which will join Starwood’s current SSO operations in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.
Moving forward Tricia will be instrumental in raising awareness about Starwood’s openings and refurbishments in Queensland and Western Australia, and in driving Starwood’s performance, revenue and position across these regions.
Tricia started her career with Starwood in 2004 when she joined the SSO based in New Zealand. During this time Tricia looked after the outbound MICE Market and Wholesale partners. In 2010 Tricia moved to Australia taking on the role of Director of Sales & Marketing at Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa, successfully repositioning the hotel after a AUD$10 million renovation.
As Director of SSO Brisbane, Tricia will be based at Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane, reporting into Ashley Hansen, Regional Director for Sales & Marketing and Starwood Sales Organisation in the Pacific.
4. Insight Vacations Australia welcomes new Head of Marketing
Insight Vacations Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Ola Kay to the position of Head of Marketing, based in the Sydney office.
With over 20 years of experience in advertising and corporate marketing, Ola brings to Insight Vacations a wealth of knowledge and skills from her previous roles including SBS Television, Westfield, Vodafone, BT Funds Management and M&C Saatchi.
Joost Timmer, Managing Director, Insight Vacations Australia said Ola has delivered major marketing campaign for various companies in Australia and overseas.
“I look forward to working with her closely to ensure we continue to drive brand awareness, cement our positioning in the luxury and premium markets and take our business from strength to strength.”
Joost Timmer, Insight Vacations Australia Managing Director
5. Los Cabos Tourism Board welcomes new MD
The Los Cabos Tourism Board is pleased to announce the appointment of former Baja California Sur Secretary of Tourism, Ruben Reachi, to Managing Director.
Effective today, Ruben will assume the role of Managing Director for the Los Cabos Tourism Board, overseeing the implementation of a wide variety of programs designed to promote visitation to Los Cabos as well as the growth and management of the destination’s tourism infrastructure.
Before joining the Los Cabos Tourism Board Ruben held an elected position as Secretary of Tourism for Baja California Sur from April 2011 through June 2015.
During his four years in this role, Ruben oversaw the region’s tourism promotion and development. Additionally, he acted as coordinator of the Secretary of Tourism Association for the Pacific region, which includes not only Baja California Sur but also Sinaloa, Colima, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacan, and Baja California.
Ruben was born and raised in the city of San Luis Potosi.
He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Technological Institute of Monterrey and graduated with honors.
Throughout his career he has worked in many areas such as the financial and industrial sectors as well as tourism and real estate.
He has been married for 13 years and is the father of two children.
6. New sales & marketing manager for Sigatoka River Safari
Fiji’s leading tour operator, Sigatoka River Safari, is delighted to announce the appointment of Angela Hassan as their new Sales and Marketing Manager.
Angela, who has a BA in Tourism and Marketing, brings to the role a wealth of sales and marketing experience having previously worked with Accor Resort & Hotels as a sales consultant. Prior to this Angela was employed by The Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa in the role of Area Sales Manager.
Prior to working at The Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa, Angela spent five years at The Naviti Resort as their Sales and Marketing Manager and for 12 years prior to this worked in the resorts Front Office.
In her new role of Sales and Marketing Manager, Angela will work across the award winning Sigatoka River Safari and she hopes to use her experience and skills to help grow the company even further and continue to show guests the real Fiji.
7. Virgin Australia Cargo gets a new GM of Commercial
John Mason will join Virgin Australia Cargo the new as General Manager Commercial.
Mr Mason has 25 years’ experience in the air cargo, aviation and transport logistics industries within Australia and across the Asia Pacific region. He will commence with Virgin Australia Cargo on 20 July 2015.
Virgin Australia Cargo CEO Merren McArthur said John has extensive experience in the freight industry, which makes him a great asset to the company.
Mr Mason has worked in Transport and Logistics at Australian Air Express, Air New Zealand, Lloyd Aviation and SkyWest Airlines. Mr Mason most recently held the role of Business and Logistics Management Consultant at Health World Limited, a leading supplier of natural medicines.