The catering bill for these travel companies will skyrocket after new appointments, as staff request finger sandwiches over pies.

Tony Douglas appointed as new Etihad CEO

The Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, His Excellency Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, today confirmed the appointment of Tony Douglas as Group Chief Executive Officer, who will join the company in January 2018.

Douglas joins Etihad from the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, where he has served as CEO of the Defence Equipment and Support department, responsible for procuring and supporting all the equipment and services for the British Armed Forces.

In the UK, he held senior positions with airport operator BAA, and as Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Executive designate of Laing O’Rourke. His roles under airport operator BAA included Managing Director of the Heathrow Terminal 5 project, Group Supply Chain Director, Group Technical Director, and CEO of Heathrow Airport.

Previously, Douglas held senior positions in the UAE, most notably as CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company and as CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Company where he was responsible for the successful delivery of Khalifa Port.

Douglas commented, “Etihad is a force in global aviation that must continue to adapt and evolve on its own and with industry partners. It is an economic and employment engine for the UAE and the region. With new infrastructure and attractions like the expanded airport, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Global Market, Etihad has a central role in supporting the UAE’s position as a global hub of transportation, tourism, commerce, and culture.”

Leon Thomson joins Marriott International’s Fiji Complex

Leon Thomson was announced as Executive Assistant Manager – Sales & Marketing for Marriott International’s Fiji Complex, including Sheraton Fiji Resort, Sheraton Denarau Villas, The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa and Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, at the inaugural Destination Fiji event at Sheraton on the Park, Sydney on Thursday 21 September, 2017.

In his new role, Leon will be responsible for overseeing and driving the marketing strategies for all four hotels plus the Denarau International Golf and Racquet Club, whilst also providing training, support and guidance to maximise the talent and booking potential of his complex sales team.

Leon is a skilled hotelier, with over 28 years’ experience in sales, marketing, management and operations working for a range of hotels across Australia and internationally.

Prior to taking on this role, Leon was the Director of Sales & Marketing for Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast, where he relaunched the hotel following a widespread renovation project, announced the designation of the property as a Sheraton Grand resort and unveiled the resort’s newly-renovated Pacific Mirage Villas.

Before Leon joined Marriott International, formerly Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Leon worked for several hotel groups including Watermark Hotel Group, Fairmont Resort (AccorHotels) and Hyatt.

Topdeck appoints new Global General Manager and Regional Manager for APAC

Above: Ben Ittensohn, Regional Manager Asia Pacific

Leading group travel provider for 18-30 somethings, Topdeck Travel, has officially announced the appointment of Joe Ponte as their new Global General Manager following 18 months of success as GM for the brand’s Asia Pacific region.

Topdeck has also appointed Ben Ittensohn as Regional Manager Asia Pacific, as 2017 marks the 10-year anniversary of Ittensohn working for the youth tour operator.

Joe Ponte’s new role has been relocated to the company’s London headquarters to immerse himself in the global product, operations and management teams of the business.

Ponte boasts an impressive background, having served as General Manager Asia Pacific at Topdeck Travel, Customer Experience and Marketing at Insider Journeys, Director at Brand USA and National Manager, Customer and Marketing at Stockland and Flight Centre, respectively.

Ponte commented on his appointment, “While I’ll surely miss the passionate team I’ve had the pleasure of cultivating in our Asia Pacific region, I’m thrilled to be working more closely with the strong teams based out of our London headquarters and taking the company’s customer orientation to new heights through product innovation.”

Ittensohn started his career with Topdeck as State Sales Manager and has seen incredible growth over the years.

Ittensohn said, “I am delighted to accept the Asia Pacific Regional Manager role and have this opportunity to help shape the new evolution of Topdeck.

“We have some exciting growth plans towards 2021 and beyond it’s an exciting time to be part of the company and in this new position, I look forward to bringing our teams closer together and in particular sales, marketing and customer service teams, to continue to expand our brand in the Asia Pacific region.”

Next Hotels appoints Marcus Dudley as GM of the soon-to-open Sage Ringwood, Melbourne

Innovative boutique hotel brand Sage Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcus Dudley as General Manager for the highly anticipated Sage Hotel Ringwood in Melbourne’s leafy eastern suburbs and gateway to the Yarra Valley.

The newly built hotel scheduled to open on 10^th October brings the number of Sage Hotels to five and complements the recently opened properties in Brisbane and West Perth, together with Adelaide and Wollongong.

Marcus is a seasoned hotelier with over 25 years’ experience within the industry, having spent the last 10 years in the Middle East, most recently as General Manager at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

His career has taken him across the globe with previous management roles in United Arab Emirates, Thailand, England, South Africa and Australia, bringing a wealth of cross-cultural experience to the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne.

Dudley remarked, “I’m thrilled to be appointed General Manager of Sage Hotel Ringwood, and am eagerly looking forward to creating memorable experiences for our guests.

“The hotel is strategically located in Melbourne’s east, perfect for a day of shopping with friends or a daytrip to the beautiful Yarra Valley. When it’s time to put your feet up, we know that Sage Hotel Ringwood will become the obvious choice, due to its impeccable offerings“.

Marcus recently commenced his new role in Ringwood and has been tasked with building a team of over 30 associates, as well as developing all pre-opening activities to ensure the hotel’s success.

Kristy Edwards Now Leading Best Western’s Revenue Team

Kristy Edwards has been promoted to Senior Revenue Manager at Best Western Australasia, managing a team of four that works across its properties in Australia and New Zealand.

“Our hoteliers are generally owner operators and exceptionally busy people who can’t spare the time to work on revenue management and demand generation, which is where we come in,” said Kristy.

“We work across all types of properties and markets. There’s been a lot more interest in what we’re doing as awareness grows among Best Western members of the benefits we can deliver.”

Kristy started her hospitality career in operations working at a number of large five-star properties before moving into revenue management. She has been with Best Western for five years and was recently promoted into her new role.

Rebecca Platt appointed Director of Marketing at The St. Regis Doha, Qatar

The St. Regis Doha, The Finest Address in Qatar, has announced the appointment of Rebecca Platt as Director of Marketing to join as part of their Executive Committee. With over 15 years marketing experience in the hospitality industry, Rebecca brings extensive PR, marketing and digital knowledge to the property.

Rebecca will be heading the marketing team as part of the senior leadership team at the hotel and will be responsible for developing the complete marketing strategy and representation of the St Regis Doha, developing media and partnership relations, as well as ensuring the overall sales and marketing objectives are achieved. 

Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 15 years throughout the Middle East, UK and Europe, Rebecca brings with her a wealth of experience and a background in the luxury hospitality market having worked in the past with many internationally recognized brands.

Originally from the UK, she started her career as a creative designer who moved into marketing for the specialist hospitality market and, within three years of graduating, was running her own award-winning marketing & communications company in London.

Commenting on her appointment, Rebecca said “I am delighted to have joined the team here at this stunning property and am very excited to be part of the St. Regis family. Although I have worked in the GCC for a number of years now I am looking forward to exploring the Doha market and driving new and exciting marketing initiatives to raise awareness of the Hotel”.

Rakesh Raicar Moves Down Under as General Manager, Southwest Pacific for Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific announced Rakesh Raicar as General Manager for Southwest Pacific. Raicar replaces General Manager, Nelson Chin, who will now serve as General Manager, Cargo – Commercial, based in Hong Kong.

Raicar has worked at Cathay Pacific for 25 years, starting with the airline in 1992. With a career spanning from sales manager to country manager for South Africa & Indian Ocean, Raicar has a wealth of experience in leading, developing and executing commercial strategies.

Raicar said of the appointment: “I’m delighted to be taking up the role of General Manager for Southwest Pacific and am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

In the coming months, Raicar will be conducting a nationwide tour of Cathay Pacific ports in Australia, including stops in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Cairns and Brisbane.

“Our focus for the remainder of 2017 will be adjusting our business to align with the evolving aviation landscape. We’ll utilise data-driven customer insights to uncover current consumer needs and deliver exceptional service. We’ll also be working to improve efficiencies and maintain operational excellence.

“We truly believe there is a difference between travelling and travelling well and our overarching goal is to enable every customer the opportunity to live a ‘life well travelled’ with Cathay Pacific”.

Raicar commenced his role in August 2017.

GHM Appoints First Local Female General Manager

General Hotel Management (GHM) has named Deasy Swandarini general manager of its intimate 20-villa resort – The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah, Ubud, Bali – a private hideaway nestled in Ubud’s emerald rice paddies.

Balinese by birth, Swandarini joins the GHM family after having spent a large part of her hospitality career in several of Bali’s highly regarded resorts including Kayumanis Nusa Dua, The Royal Santrian Luxury Beach Villas, The Mulia and The Ritz-Carlton Bali.

Her extensive knowledge of sales, marketing and revenue management is a natural complement for her dynamic leadership, as testified by the stellar performance of the previous resorts under her charge.

Most recently the General Manager of Kamandalu Ubud where she successfully repositioned the resort by delivering a new brand identity, conceptualised new operational standards through the introduction of a butler service, among others, Swandarini had also demonstrated her adroitness through consistently high standards in overall service and quality in the resorts where she has worked.

It is no coincidence that both Kayumanis Nusa Dua and The Royal Santrian Luxury Beach Villas earned the top ranking on TripAdvisor while Swandarini was at the helm.

“From the moment you set foot in The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah, you can sense the soul of this place and you’d realise what a special place this is. It is a privilege to be tasked to manage this resort, especially as its first local GM, and I am looking forward to welcoming more guests to experience this haven,” said Deasy.

LATAM Airlines Group appoints Valeria Alvano as Regional General Manager, Oceania 

LATAM Airlines Group (LATAM) is pleased to announce Valeria Alvano has been appointed Regional General Manager, Oceania, to lead the strategic, commercial and marketing teams at its Sydney headquarters.

Alvano’s appointment follows the departure of Asia-Pacific Managing Director, Patricio Aylwin, who held the role for six years.

As Regional General Manager Alvano is responsible for consolidating LATAM’s presence in the Oceania region, a market in which LATAM continues to develop and grow.

“I am thrilled to join the Sydney-based Oceania team and drive greater awareness of South America and the Caribbean as a truly accessible, safe and exciting destination,” said Alvano.

“With a diverse mix of adventure and cultural offerings, South America is a bucket list destination for many Australians and New Zealanders and I look forward to further raising the profile of LATAM Airlines as the airline to get you there.”

Alvano is a skilled aviation professional, possessing extensive experience within the LATAM Airlines Group, having worked in a range of revenue, commercial, planning and strategic partnership roles.

For the previous five years, Alvano has held the position of Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, based at LATAM’s head office in Santiago, Chile.

Before this, her roles included Commercial Director for the South American business unit, Manager of Route Revenue for the USA, South America and Asia, Manager of Route Revenue for North America and Senior Strategic Manager for Commercial Partnerships, South America.

Alvano’s aviation and strategic experience will be pivotal to the Regional General Manager role, where she is tasked with driving awareness of LATAM’s new international routes and extensive network across South America and Caribbean.

Six Senses Appoints Julian Crane as Director of Sales & Marketing, Maldives and Seychelles

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas announces the appointment of Julian Crane as director of sales & marketing, Maldives and Seychelles. He brings to the role more than 20 years of international experience in the high-end hospitality sector.

Julian joins Six Senses from his previous role of director of marketing for Four Seasons Hotel Doha. He originally joined Four Seasons in 1993 at the Regent Kuala Lumpur as front desk manager before moving into sales. He then became director of sales in the Four Seasons properties in Chiang Mai, Tokyo and Sydney before becoming director of marketing in Damascus and then Doha.

The broad experience of his hotel career began in 1990 as a trainee at The Ritz Hotel London. He then joined the opening team of the Sheraton Towers in Melbourne as a guest service agent before joining Four Seasons.

Julian holds a Marketing Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) – Hotel and Business management from Portsmouth University, UK. In addition to his native English language, he also speaks Chinese (Hokkien dialect).

Julian is accompanied by his wife, Sandra and their two children. He will be based at the Six Senses home office in Bangkok.

MSpa Appoints Patrick Huey as Group Director of Spa – Asia

From L.A. spa receptionist to global industry thought leader, Patrick Huey’s rise to the top has been anything but conventional. Currently on the Board of Directors of the prestigious International SPA Association (ISPA), Patrick joins Minor Hotel’s MSpa International in Bangkok from the Caribbean.

A graduate of both Vanderbilt and Yale, Patrick brings a dynamic approach to the spa industry. Previously, under Patrick’s leadership as Corporate Director of Spas, Fitness and Tennis, at Red Lane Spas in the Caribbean it was nominated for multiple World Spa Awards, including Best Hotel Spa Brand in 2016. Recognising the importance of training and education, Patrick was responsible for launching the Red Lane Training Institute for spa therapists, which has trained over 600 employees to date. During his tenure in the Caribbean he was also appointed to the Steering Committee of the Marketing and Tourism Board of Jamaica.

Patrick brings a rounded approach to MSpa’s holistic wellbeing programme. Emphasising the therapeutic benefits of spa therapies, as well as a healthy diet and active lifestyle, Patrick is committed to expanding MSpa’s offerings, from experienced Ayurvedic doctors to alternative healing specialists and lifestyle coaches.

Patrick has over two decades’ experience in luxury hospitality, from Ian Schrager hotels in New York to the Four Seasons and Viceroy groups, in roles from overall group strategy to daily operations and sales.

Prime Biz Kuta appoints new General Manager

One of Seminyak’s favourite boutique properties, located on the famous Eat Street, Amadea Resort and Villas’ General Manager Wayan Warta, has been appointed General Manager of Prime Biz Kuta Hotel.

Warta’s experience has seen him lead the opening of Amadea Resort and Villas since 2011, and this new role will see dual responsibility of Prime Biz Kuta Hotel.

Prime Plaza Biz Kuta, is perfectly located, only 5 minutes from Denpasar airport and is only a few minutes from the famous Kuta Beachfront and shopping and entertainment street.

With 143 rooms and suites, free WiFi, a Rooftop Sky pool, the Kopi Bali House restaurant, 4 meeting rooms, spa and gym, Prime Biz Kuta is ideally positioned for both the business traveller, as well as the leisure traveller wanting a stopover before heading out to the islands.

Prime Biz Kuta also offers 12-hour transit usage of the rooms for under AUD$50. Perfect for late night airline departure times to Australia.