Flavour of the Week

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Take a look at the industry’s newest movers and shakers. Though that’s not to say they’re dance champions.

Travellers Choice welcomes new BDM in Sydney and Canberra

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Travellers Choice members gathered in Sydney and Canberra last week to give a warm welcome to Paula Moylan, the network’s new Business Development Manager for NSW and the ACT.

In Sydney Travellers Choice General Manager Sales Nicola Strudwick officially welcomed Moylan with drinks overlooking Darling Harbour, and in Canberra Managing Director Christian Hunter introduced the group’s new BDM with some Barefoot Bowls at The RUC Turner Bowls Club.

SmartFlyer Australia Appoints New Operations Manager

The Goldman Travel Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Naomi Peel as Operations Manager for Australia’s leading travel network, SmartFlyer Australia.

Peel joins the travel collective with more than 17 years of experience in the travel industry including working directly with officials in consulates, embassies and high commissions. Most recently, she coordinated fully escorted tours (Asia and South Pacific) with the Globus Family of Brands and worked for TravelManagers Australia as an operation executive.

Peel will be based in Goldman’s Bondi Junction office and will oversee all aspects of business operations. This includes troubleshooting for the “Smarties”; Goldman’s team of remote travel advisors, liaising with key suppliers and managing SmartFlyer Australia events – including a series of pop up offices launching in Sydney and Melbourne throughout the year.

Castaway Island, Fiji lifts conservation awareness with appointment of environment officer

Kolinio Vulaono_Environment Officer

As the United Nations designates 2018 as the third International Year of the Reef, Castaway Island, Fiji has appointed an environment officer as part of its ongoing commitment to preserve and protect its pristine marine environment.

A graduate of Fiji National University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental management, Kolinio Mataiyaga Vulaono will be responsible for the environmentally sustainable use of both the marine and land-based resources of the resort.

Vulaono will work in partnership with other tourism operators, communities, government and non-government organizations while also promoting OZONE, Outrigger Resorts’ global conservation initiative, centred on protecting the health of the world’s coral reefs and oceans.

He sees his role as focusing on education and training to prevent degradation of the environment, working closely with the resort’s PADI dive, water-sports and activities department to deliver the Outrigger-Zone (OZONE) environment initiative and collaborating with the Mamanuca Environment Society.

Event Hospitality & Entertainment appoints QT Hotels & Resorts Communications Manager

Jessica Fornito

Event Hospitality & Entertainment, parent company to QT Hotels & Resorts, this week announced Jessica Fornito as the new Communications Manager across QT Hotels & Resorts, nationally.

Fornito joined QT Hotels & Resorts in 2014 and throughout her four years at QT she has held positions as PR Executive and PR Manager covering QT Hotels in Sydney, Canberra & Melbourne.

In 2016 Fornito transferred to the Melbourne office to spearhead the successful opening of QT Melbourne. Fornito oversaw partnerships including a successful collaboration with Vogue Australia and GQ to host a Melbourne spring racing breakfast, positioning the QT Melbourne Rooftop as the must-visit destination across the popular carnival.

Fornito was also fundamental in partnering QT Melbourne with the 2017 delicious. Produce Awards as well as collaborating with The World’s 50 Best Restaurants to become the ‘Official Hotel’ of its 2017 program and subsequently hosting the All Star Yum Cha brunch.

Scenic Announces its World-Class Operations Team for Scenic Eclipse

Scenic has announced the appointment of four key operational roles in preparation for the maiden voyage of Scenic Eclipse on 31 August 2018.

Hans Heger – General Manager Operations, Scenic Discovery Yachts – assumes responsibility for all operations relating to the Scenic Eclipse fleet

General Manager Operations Scenic Discovery Yachts Hans Heger

Guillermo Muro – Culinary Director – will oversee the menu development across the 10 on board dining experiences, as well as manage operations for the ship’s extensive culinary department in conjunction with V Ships

Culinary Director Guillermo Muro

Frederik Ekelund – Hotel Director – will be responsible for managing Scenic Eclipse’s on board operations

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Sonja Altmann – Operations Manager – will oversee all shore-based guest operations, including shore excursions and supplier relationships

Operations Manager Sonja Altmann

With the build of the first Scenic Eclipse nearing completion, the appointments within this senior team will ensure Scenic deliver a truly world-class, six-star luxury cruise experience for guests.

Amadeus creates NDC-X program to drive industry innovation

The travel industry is moving towards increased personalisation, as merchandising techniques drive new revenues and business opportunities, and as travelers expect brands to know them and adapt offers accordingly.

It is against this backdrop that Amadeus today announces the creation of a dedicated program to drive the industrialisation of NDC and ensure its success for all travel players.

Gianni Pisanello, who has held a variety of leadership roles within Amadeus’ airlines business, both on the IT and the distribution side, will lead the new NDC-X program.

“We are at a critical moment in terms of the development of the standard, and the readiness of the industry,” says Gianni Pisanello, VP, NDC-X program. “For NDC to truly take off, we need to create a real standard not only for the protocol itself, but also for how it’s implemented. We also need to ensure that it responds to travel seller requirements, and that it has the right economics to drive investment. At Amadeus, we recognise that we have a responsibility to make NDC work for all travel players, and that’s what we will be doing through our NDC-X program.”

GHM Appoints Moukarzel to Lead Al Bait Opening

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General Hotel Management Ltd. (GHM) has named Patrick Moukarzel general manager of the Al Bait Sharjah, a 53-key hotel scheduled to open later this year in a historic district of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) third largest city.

A French national fluent in three languages, including Arabic, Moukarzel’s appointment is a homecoming of sorts. Between 2006 and 2012, he rose through the ranks from a food and beverage manager at The Chedi Muscat to general manager positions at the luxury hotel group’s properties in Thailand and China.

Since his last role with GHM as a general manager in Suzhou, Moukarzel has managed luxury hotels in Penang, Malaysia and in Maldives where he shepherded the Soneva Jani from the final stages of construction to full operation.

Tourism Authority hires Jennifer Davies as Director of Cultural Tourism, Balboa Park

The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) announced today that Jennifer Davies has been named Director of Cultural Tourism, Balboa Park. A recognized local leader in public affairs and communications, Davies is the first person to occupy the newly created position.

In her new role, Davies will oversee the SDTA’s Balboa Park-focused cultural tourism initiatives, working to promote Balboa Park as a nationally recognized cultural icon and generate travel to the San Diego region.

Davies has a robust record of leading communications, marketing strategy and program development for prominent San Diego organizations. Prior to joining the SDTA, Davies served as the Assistant Dean of External Affairs for UC San Diego Extension and Vice President of External Affairs for the Downtown San Diego Partnership. She also served as Director of Communications for former City Council President Sherri Lightner and worked as the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Centre City Development Corporation.

Davies also has a background in journalism, having served as a staff writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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