It’s been a busy week of executive moves in the travel industry, both in the cruise segment and beyond.
This week American Cruise Lines named Susan Shultz-Gelina its new vice president of trade relations. Formerly the line’s director of business development, the 20-year cruise veteran will now oversee all trade partnerships and group sales.
Scenic, meanwhile, has tapped “charter guru” Bruce Setloff to assist its Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours and Emerald Waterways in an advisory role as the two brands seek to grow their charter sales. Setloff, who has worked with brands such as Crystal, Azamara, SeaDream, Seabourn, Cunard and Royal Cruise Line, will work with the company’s senior management to develop a CMI operation.
SeaDream Yacht Club hired Jos Dewing to spearhead its sales in the UK market and develop relationships with trade partners, reporting to SeaDream VP Sales Jannicke Rognstad. Dewing has 15 years of experience, previously owning board-level roles at Voyages to Antiquity, The Cruise Line and CruiseTech.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) named Julie Green its vice president of strategic communications for Europe as part of a plan to grow its presence in the region. Green, who most recently served as the head of corporate communications for consulting firm WSP UK, will lead CLIA’s strategic communications efforts in Europe, beginning her tenure in London and transitioning to CLIA’s office in Brussels in August. CLIA said that has also established a new Director General position for Europe, which will be filled “soon.”
In agency news, Ovation Travel Group hired Aanchal Gandhi to the newly created role of vice president of leisure and independent advisors, West Coast, as it continues to grow its business in the area. Gandhi will oversee advisor recruitment on the West Coast, reporting to Ovation SVP of Leisure and Independent Advisors Gina Gabbard. Gandhi comes to Ovation directly from 11 years as an independent advisor with Protravel International.
In hotel news, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) appointed Mark Sergot as vice president, global sales operations and enablement. He has more than 25 years of experience, previously serving as chief sales officer for Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI). In his new role, Sergot is responsible for driving sales and commercial performance and developing solutions across the B2B customer buying journey to capitalize on market opportunities. He will lead teams responsible for sales operations, sales effectiveness, analytics and insights, data and reporting, and B2B tradeshows and events.
Turks & Caicos-based Grace Bay Resorts named Audrey Gonzalez its director of marketing and communications. Gonzalez brings over 14 years of hospitality experience to Grace Bay Resorts. Her career began with Fairmont Hotels and Resorts while attending Johnson & Wales University in Miami, Florida, where she graduated with a degree in Hotel Management and a minor in Culinary Arts. Most recently, she was with Davidson Hotels and Resorts as the director of sales and marketing for Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton.
A number of individual properties made key leadership appointments this week:
- The Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, Los Angeles hired Hotel Manager Antoine Winckler, Director of Catering & Conference Services Duane Mah, Director of Sales and Marketing Paul Sposare, Regional Director of Finance & Business Support Christine Mikkelsen, Regional Director of Human Resources Dana Sholl, Director of Rooms Juan Leonis and Director of Residences Zuhair Ammar.
- The Garden Court Hotel in downtown Palo Alto appointed Brayton Gosling its new general manager.
- Florian Steinmaier was named general manager of Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt, a Rocco Forte Hotel.
- Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa in Western Colorado announced Tim Mattos as its director of sales and marketing.
- Jonathan Andrew Ross became managing director of the Brenton Hotel, a new boutique hotel in Newport, RI, opening this June.
In technology news, Travelport appointed John Elieson as its new chief operating officer. He was most recently president and CEO of Radixx International, a company that provides passenger services system technology to the airline industry and that was recently acquired by Sabre. Previously, John had a 30-year career with Sabre and its former parent company, American Airlines.
In air travel news, this week David L. Calhoun assumed the role of president and chief executive officer at Boeing. He has served in various senior leadership roles within several large-scale enterprises including at the Blackstone Group, Nielsen Holdings and GE.
Finally, American Airlines named Brian Znotins its vice president of network and schedule planning. He joins the airline from WestJet, where he spent the past three years as its vice president of network, alliances and corporate development. Prior to that, he spent more than 17 years at United Airlines and Continental Airlines in numerous leadership positions.
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