Ellen Bettridge Leaves Silversea for Sandals

ellen bettridgeUnique Vacations, Inc. (UVI), exclusive representatives of Sandals Resorts International in the Americas, recently announced the appointment of travel industry veteran Ellen Bettridge as president. She will be based in Miami and begins her new role January 6.

The move comes about a week after Unique Vacations Inc. (UVI) announced the appointment of industry veteran, Randy Russell, to senior vice president, social commerce, a new position. He will also 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.

And that move came just a roughly two weeks after Unique Vacations Inc. announced that President Kevin Froemming resigned from the company in order to take up a new position.   

“We are thrilled to welcome Ellen Bettridge to the Sandals family,” said Gordon “Butch” Stewart, chairman of Sandals Resorts International, in a written release. “She is a person of incredible talent whose experience as a marketer, luxury brand expert and champion of travel agents, is perfectly aligned with our objectives of growth, innovation and excellence.”

Bettridge comes to UVI as one of the travel industry’s most recognizable and respected executives. Prior to joining UVI, Bettridge served as president of the Americas for luxury cruise company Silversea Cruises. Our sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, profiled Bettridge and Silversea in a cover story back in June, where she talked about her plans for the line and travel agents. 

RELATED: Silversea Steps Out

Speaking of Silversea, the company recently announced the promotion of Kristian Anderson to general manager of the Fort Lauderdale office and senior vice president of sales for North America, effective December 16, 2013.  

Anderson, who joined Silversea in June 2012 as vice president of sales for North America, is a travel industry veteran with over 25 years of sales and management experience. In his new position, Anderson will continue to develop and accelerate revenue growth throughout the Americas. He will report to Enzo Visone, Silversea's chief executive officer.

RELATED: Anderson Promoted to Silversea's Fort Lauderdale GM as Bettridge Leaves for Sandals

Before Silversea, Bettridge built a 20-year career with American Express, starting as a travel counselor and departing the company in 2012 as vice president of the American Express U.S. Retail Travel Network. 

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