Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers!
1. Flight Centre appoints new CFO
Flight Centre has appointed Adam Campbell to head up its finances in the recently vacated Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role.
Campbell, 40, steps in to replace Andrew Flannery, who last week accepted a promotion to the senior leadership role of Executive General Manager of Flight Centre’s Australian corporate travel business.
Formerly Flight Centre Australia’s CFO, Campbell has worked with the Travel Group for nine years across a variety of senior finance roles.
2. New Executive Chef joins Holiday Inn Sydney Airport
Holiday Inn Sydney Airport has appointed a new Executive Chef, Louise Farquhar, to help continue to strengthen and diversify the hotel’s food and beverage (F&B) offering.
Louise brings more than 20 years’ experience in the hospitality sector to her new role and will now manage a kitchen team of 15 at the award-winning 4.5 star airport hotel.
Joining Holiday Inn Sydney Airport from the Q Station in Manly as Executive Chef, Louise managed several teams of Chefs, 12 function rooms, an a la carte restaurant, café, buffet style restaurant and room service.
Louise’s past experience in large hotel chains such as AccorHotels and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, lends an extensive knowledge of hotel operations to bolster her new role.
Originally from Wollongong, Louise commenced her hospitality career as an Apprentice Chef in Sydney within corporate catering followed by three years in New Zealand across a range of hotels and wineries.
Louise has completed an Associate Diploma in Hospitality Management and a Commercial Cookery Certificate.
3. SureSave appoints Business Development Manager
SureSave has appointed Peter James as its new Business Development Manager (BDM) for New South Wales.
Working alongside BDM, James Lenehan, Peter will be responsible for driving growth throughout the state for the company which insures 300,000 Australians every year.
Peter holds an impressive portfolio of sales experience and over 12 years in the travel industry, with strengths in customer relations management, maintaining and increasing sales, in-house marketing, public relations and operations.
Peter’s background ranges from leading companies both in Australia and the UK including, American Express, Travelmood/ Austravel, Dial-A-Flight, Ski France and most recently, Scenic Tours.
4. Chris Bailey promoted to Centara COO
Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced the promotion of Chris Bailey to Chief Operating Officer from Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Since joining Centara Hotels & Resorts in 2004 as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bailey has played a significant role in the formulation of the effective growth strategy that has propelled the company to the pre-eminent position in the industry it enjoys today.
With a wealth of experience in travel and destination management, Bailey brings that knowledge and wider industry perspective to his new role.
Bailey will oversee Centara operations, sales and marketing, and the organization’s various corporate entities, which are all vital components as the company continues to rapidly expand locally and internationally.
5. Laucala Island welcomes new Executive Chef
Laucala Island has appointed Christoph G. Ganster as its new Managing Director, effective from July 2015.
Austrian born and veteran of the luxury hospitality industry, Ganster has more than 23 years of experience as an international hotelier, most recently serving the last 11 years with FRHI Hotels & Resorts.
Previously, Ganster was General Manager in Seychelles, Ukraine and Egypt with Raffles Hotels & Resorts as well as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
Prior to that he worked in various senior management positions in United Arab Emirates, Caribbean, Maldives, Mauritius, Switzerland, USA and Germany.
Most recently he was based in Seychelles as General Manager of Raffles Praslin.
In addition to his role he was a Member of the Board of the Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Academy as well as the Seychelles Tourism Board, the Government Body, promoting Seychelles.
Ganster graduated from the School of Tourism & Hotel Management Schloss Klessheim, Salzburg, Austria.