Get the paper plates ready and pour yourself a cup of tea, it’s time to welcome these new faces into the industry!

VOX S.p.A. announces appointment of John Boulding as CMO

POPGuide, the high performance mapping app and audio-guide system, today announced the appointment of John Boulding as CMO. This move is part of a major global expansion that sees Vox Group rapidly building its footprint across the wider tourism industry.

Elio Epifani, Vox Group President, said: “We are excited by the appointment. John and his marketing team are creating a world-wide sales force to distribute POPGuide through tour operators, attractions, hotels, travel agencies, MICE and institutions. John is a passionate leader and an expert in innovation and branding who brings 40 years’ global experience and connections as a senior travel industry executive to our group.”

RCL Cruises announces Asia Pacific leadership changes

Royal Caribbean has today announced the resignation of its Associate Vice President and Managing Director in Australia & New Zealand, Adam Armstrong.

Adam has been with the business since 2009, when Royal Caribbean opened its local office, and is leaving to pursue other interests, effective August 2018.

Adam first joined the company as Commercial Manager as one of the first locally-based employees. In 2016, he took on the role of Managing Director and has overseen a period of significant growth for the RCL family of brands, culminating with all three cruise lines – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara – sailing down under for the past three cruise seasons.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts strengthens female leadership with executive appointments

Lindsey Ueberroth, Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Hotels & Resorts — the world’s largest global provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to independent luxury hotels — today announced three executive appointments that mark a significant shift in the leadership structure of the family-owned and operated-company: Michelle Woodley has been promoted to President; Kristie Goshow has been named Chief Marketing Officer; and Caroline Michaud has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications & Public Relations.

With the luxury hospitality company celebrating its 50^th anniversary milestone this year, these appointments come at a pivotal moment in Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ history and signal the Ueberroth family’s strategic focus on driving growth and innovation to ensure future decades of success for the Preferred brand.

TRAVLR boosts executive team with two senior recruits in preparation to transform travel tech

Aussie travel technology start-up, TRAVLR, is thrilled to announce the immediate appointment of two new senior recruits in Geoff Stringer as Chief Operating Officer and Stuart Rowe as Chief Technology Officer, to its executive leadership team.

Both senior appointments bring with them a wealth of experience in the travel and tech start-up sectors to Melbourne-based travel technology platform, TRAVLR, founded by Simon and Lani te Hennepe the creators of The Bali Bible.

The move comes as TRAVLR prepares for rapid expansion into global destinations and gears up to launch a first of its kind platform in the tech-travel sector.

Stringer, a veteran of the global travel industry having spent eighteen years with Lonely Planet and most recently as Operations Director at Sensis, will lead the operational, financial and expansion aspects of the TRAVLR business, providing leadership globally from TRAVLR’s head office based in Melbourne.

Chiva-Som International Health Resort Welcomes New General Manager, Vaipanya Kongkwanyuen

Thailand’s pioneering health and wellness resort, Chiva-Som welcomes Vaipanya Kongkwanyuen as new General Manager.

Vaipanya is returning home to Chiva-Som, having been the Director of Food & Beverage for the resort in 1994 in the early stages of the journey, during the pre-opening phase.

He was recently based in China (Beijing, Lijiang and Hangzhou) with the Aman Group as General Manager from 2012.

Vaipanya has extensive experience and a career background in food and beverage in Thailand and overseas which commenced in 1984.

He was heavily involved in the pre-opening team for the Aman Group in both Lijiang and Beijing, as well as with Four Seasons, Thailand. Apart from operations, he was previously responsible for sales and marketing strategic planning.

The Walshe Group to farewell longtime friend and colleague Mona Tannous

Long-standing Country Manager Australia/NZ for Sultanate of Oman Tourism, Mona Tannous, has made the decision to explore a new direction after 10 years with The Walshe Group.

“Oman has been, and always will be, a passion for me. It has been a privilege to share the incredible stories of this dynamic country and its amazing people to travellers,” Tannous said.

Tannous has been dedicated to the marketing and promotion of Oman for more than a decade.

She has made a huge contribution to growing awareness of the destination in the market, with Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism winning Best International Tourism Office in Australia in the National Travel Agents Association Awards in 2012 a direct result of her energy and leadership.