Unique Vacations Inc. (UVI), an affiliate of the worldwide representatives for Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, recently announced the appointment of industry veteran, Randy Russell, to senior vice president, social commerce, a new position. He will be based in Miami.
Russell, whose appointment becomes effective January 6, is a well-known fixture in the travel industry where as "Randymon," he developed a reputation as a skilled hotelier and intuitive marketing executive. Most recently, he was senior vice president, sales and marketing and chief romance officer for Couples Resorts, where he helped lead the company through several consecutive years of record occupancies and revenues.
The news comes a week after Unique Vacations Inc. announced that President Kevin Froemming resigned from the company in order to take up a new position. Froemming has been president of Unique Vacations, an affiliate of the worldwide representatives for Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, since 2003 after serving as chief operating officer at The Mark Travel Corporation.
“We are in a period of tremendous growth and so it is critical, that as we expand to new destinations, add new employees and ultimately serve more guests, we refine and strengthen our corporate culture,” said Gordon “Butch” Stewart, chairman of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), in a written release.
According to Adam Stewart, CEO of SRI and one of the travel industry’s most prolific users of social media, the use of technology as the principle means of communication has in some ways, diminished a skill set that is worth investing in.
“No one is better at getting to the essence of relationships and building on those alliances to achieve success internally and externally than Randymon,” said Stewart.
Commenting on his appointment, Russell said he was “thrilled to join the all-inclusive luxury leader” and looking forward to creating “emotional connections with customers, guests and staff so satisfying, that loyalty is assured.”