Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers.
1. BIG4 Holiday Parks Appoints Susie Thomson
Experienced Public Relations and Communications expert Susie Thompson has joined the BIG4 Holiday Parks team, effective immediately.
Susie brings over 11 years’ experience in PR, including having spent the last three years managing the Travel and Tourism clients at Mango Communications in Australia and New Zealand. Former clients have included Booking.com, Hilton Hotels, thl – Maui & Britz Campervans, Qantas, TFE Hotels, Tourism Fiji, Delaware North – Lizard and Heron Islands, Kings Canyon, El Questro and the Merlin Entertainment Group (Melbourne SEALIFE Aquarium and Kelly Tarlton’s in Auckland, NZ).
The GM of Marketing & Sales, BIG4 Holiday Parks, Campbell Davies says Susie brings highly relevant expertise from within the category to the appointment, and is delighted she is joining the BIG4 team.
“Susie’s experience has provided her insights into best practice tourism communications, which will be of great benefit to BIG4 Holiday Parks… Working closely together with our external PR agency team, Susie’s role will be further increasing the profile of our 180 parks nationally, focusing on brand essence characteristics of quality, location, connectedness and fun.”
Campbell Davies, GM of Marketing & Sales, BIG4 Holiday Parks.
Susie says she is very excited to have started with the holiday park industry leader.
“I’m passionate about creating and delivering strong and engaging PR campaigns that cut through the clutter,” says Thomson. “I’m particularly pleased to be doing it with the industry leaders, who continue to define the direction of the sector.”
Susie brings a very strong network of travel media/industry to her role as PR & Communications Manager and extensive stakeholder communications management through work with the Australian Federal Government, Victorian Government, and BreastScreen Victoria.
2. Fusion Marketing’s new appointment
Relais & Châteaux has appointed Fusion Marketing as its Australian MICE Sales Representative.
Speaking of the appointment, Jim Carreker, Relais & Chateaux Delegate and Owner of The Louise Barossa Valley, said he is looking forward to working with Fusion Marketing to showcase its unique properties to the Australian market.
“It is very exciting to represent such a luxurious selection of hotels, resorts & restaurant members who are committed to delivering the highest levels of service to the Australian business events market. We look forward to working with our Australian business events clients to showcase the Relais & Châteaux – Australia, New Zealand & Sth Pacific.”
Mary-Jane Devine, Fusion director.
With 14 Hotels, Lodges and Restaurants in four countries, Relais & Châteaux offers a myriad of extraordinary destinations. What makes these properties so special is their sheer diversity and uniqueness yet they share a common philosophy of values and taste of the land, delivering an unforgettable experience to their guests.
3. Sabre appoints Alfred de Cárdenas as CCO
Sabre Corporation, the leading technology provider to the global travel industry, has appointed Alfred de Cárdenas as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of its Travel Network organization, which spans the GDS travel marketplace and Traveler Experience businesses.
With more than 28 years of commercial strategy, operations and executive management experience, de Cárdenas will be responsible for leading global sales, sales operations and business development initiatives.
In this position, de Cárdenas will play an instrumental role in driving Sabre’s global travel distribution business. De Cárdenas will lead a team of seasoned senior vice-presidents and vice-presidents accountable for commercial efforts and customer engagement across geographies, including global strategic accounts and sales operations.
“Alfred has extensive global commercial development experience gained from a wide range of companies with overseas operations catering to the needs of large customer bases… He brings a global perspective that will empower our business strategy and key priorities, and continue to expand and enhance our operating model across all regions.”
Sean Menke, president of Sabre Travel Network.
De Cárdenas will be based at Sabre’s global headquarters office in Southlake, Texas.