September 2009 Archives

Julian O'Neill has been appointed as the new director of finance for Thomson Airways. O'Neill joins Thomson Airways from Evans, one of the largest fashion retail divisions of Arcadia.

Wendy Wu Tours has expanded its travel agent facing business development team, with the appointment of two sales managers. 
Dougie Hill, who has previously worked for Thomas Cook Signature, has been appointed business development manager, and his key role will be to focus on new business development as well as building and supporting existing key commercial relationships and supporting independent travel agents in the North of England.
Paul Mellon, ex Trails of Indochina, Maritim Hotels and Inghams, has been appointed business development manager and he will focus on building and supporting key travel agent partners in the South of England and South Wales.

The Tourism Society has appointed Mark Miller as executive director. In his new role, Miller will be responsible for developing a new strategy and business plan over the next three years, looking at potential collaborations with other tourism bodies, increasing membership both in the UK and in overseas markets.

Miller has recently returned from overseas, where he has been for the last twelve years working in South East Asia and the Middle East, working in senior roles within tour operations, travel agency, hospitality, destination management and travel and tourism representation.

 

Ex-Lastminute.com managing director, John Bevan has joined the board of Ickenham Travel Group plc with a specific brief to develop the company's online tour operator, Letsgo2.com.
Letsgo2.com was established in 2004 to offer tailor made short breaks and holidays to destinations in Europe and worldwide.

David Noyes is to take over as chief executive of Gray Dawes Travel following the retirement of Ray Hopkins. Noyes previously worked as a director at British Airways.

 

The Grenada Board of Tourism has appointed Suzanne Mason as its second sales manager. Mason moves to the UK from Grenada where she was marketing officer with the Grenada Board of Tourism. In her new role, Mason will promote Grenada and its sister islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique to the travel trade by co-ordinating sales support and training programmes for agents and tour operators outside of London and the home counties.

 

Funway Holidays has announced the appointment of Greg Thurston to the role of sales development manager, Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Thurston has specific responsibility for generating trade sales of Funway's Sandals and Beaches programme in the south-east and, nationally, through Funway's network of retail agency partners. Thurston has previously worked for Explore Worldwide.

Kenya's Tourism Minister Hon. Najib Balala has announced the appointment of the new managing director of the Kenya Tourist Board, Robert Muriithi Ndegwa. Ndegwa currently managing director of the East African Cables (Tanzania Ltd).

Azamara Cruises has named Bert Van Middendorp as associate vice president of hotel operations. Van Middendorp most recently worked as senior vice president of hotel operations and quality assurance for luxury operator Seadream Yacht Club.

French cruise line, Compagnie du Ponant has announced the appointment of Claire Hancer as UK sales director. Hancer was previously head of UK sales for river cruise operator, Peter Deilmann Cruises and relevant experience also includes three years with Royal Caribbean International as national account manager.

 

Just for groups! has appointed Joe Walker as group sales executive. He will be based at the firm's head office in Norwich, working alongside sales director Harold Burke and five other colleagues. Walker has a tourism degree from Leeds Metropolitan University and has worked for a range of travel firms, including Discover Travel and Tours and First Choice.

 

NCL Freestyle Cruising has added to its sales team with the appointment of Julie Steadman as field sales team manager. Steadman will be based at NCL's head office in London from where she will visit agents and tour operator sectors across the UK and Ireland. Steadman spent the last 10 years developing corporate accounts for Air France and bmi where she was head of sales.

Hotels4u.com, medhotels.com and transfers4u.com have announced Teresa Walsh is the new sales and marketing director. Walsh has been acting in this role since February 2009 and now officially replaces John Harding, who will be retiring in December after a travel career spanning 50 years. Walsh joined the company from Lastminute.com following the acquisition of medhotels.com by hotels4u.com earlier this year. 

Eunice Yeo has been appointed area director, Northern and Western Europe, for the Singapore Tourism Board, based at its London office. She was most recently based at the Singapore Tourism Board's head office in Singapore within its attractions division promoting investment within the tourism sector.

Hills Balfour Synergy has announced that Lynsey Thomas is the new sales and marketing manager for Veranda Resorts in the UK. Thomas joins from Reunion Resort and Hammock Beach where she was the UK sales manager. She was also previously sales manager for Sandals and Beaches resorts.

 

The Kaleidoscope Travel Group has recruited Glen Thomas, previously national sales manager at All America Holidays, as sales manager, groups and tactical. Thomas has more than 20 years' experience in the business and will be responsible for developing new distribution channels.

 

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) has appointed Gail Henry as sustainable tourism product specialist. Henry has several years of travel experience, having worked as senior tourism advisor and head of the advisory unit of the minister of tourism in her native Trinidad and Tobago.