Have you noticed a shortage of car parks and biro pens in your office lately? These new hires could be to blame.

Javier Beneyto Appointed General Manager at COMO Metropolitan London

COMO Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Javier Beneyto as the new General Manager of COMO Metropolitan London — COMO’s 144-bedroom contemporary hotel in Mayfair.

Beneyto joins the team after successfully launching COMO’s newest addition to the collection, COMO Uma Canggu in Bali.

Born in Madrid, Javier Beneyto began his career at the Arabella Sheraton Hotel in Palma de Mallorca, while studying hotel management at universities in Spain and Germany. Since graduating he has held managerial positions at hotels across the Caribbean, North America and Europe. At the beginning of 2009, Beneyto became the Hotel Manager of the award-winning Villa Magna Hotel – a five-star Grand Luxe member of Leading Hotels of the World.

Beneyto joined COMO Hotels and Resorts in 2012 as acting General Manager of COMO Cocoa Island in the Maldives before filling the same role in London at COMO The Halkin. He then moved to the United States as the opening General Manager of COMO’s Metropolitan Miami Beach, before relocating to Bali.

Andreas Hagenbring appointed New Managing Director of AirPlus International

Effective 1 July 2018, Andreas Hagenbring will join the Management Board of AirPlus International, a leading global provider of settlement and analysis solutions for day-to-day business travel management. Hagenbring succeeds Roland Kern who will retire from AirPlus on 30 June 2018.

Andreas Hagenbring will be responsible for Finance, Global Services, and Risk and Regulations and will assume a seat on the Management Board alongside Spencer Hanlon and Chairman Patrick W. Diemer.

Hagenbring joined Lufthansa in 2008 and assumed the position of Head of Investor Relations of Lufthansa Group in 2012. He previously was employed at diverse companies in the finance industry and has contributed his expertise successfully to Lufthansa Group.

Kern will continue his career at Lufthansa Group. He has been appointed a member of the Management Board of Delvag Versicherungs-AG and will become Managing Director of Albatros Versicherungsdienste effective 1 July 2019. Kern will assume the position of Executive Vice President of Delvag Versicherungs-AG on 1 July 2018.

L.A Tourism appoints Kathleen Finneran as manger, tourism, across Australia and New Zealand

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (L.A. Tourism) has bolstered its on-the-ground team, appointing Kathleen Finneran to the full-time role of Manager, Tourism, Australia & New Zealand.

In the role, Finneran will manage all travel trade relations across the Oceania market for L.A. Tourism, as well as promoting the redevelopment of Los Angeles International Airport, which is in the midst of a USD$14 billion renovation. Based in L.A. Tourism’s Sydney office, Finneran will report to Craig Gibbons, Regional Director, Australia and New Zealand.

With over a decade of experience in the tourism industry, Finneran was formerly the Trade Development Executive at Tourism New Zealand, so she brings extensive knowledge of the Australia and New Zealand market to the role.

Seabourn promotes expedition veteran Robin West to vice president amidst growth of line’s expedition product

Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, has promoted veteran expedition leader Robin West to vice president, Expedition Operations & Planning, to oversee and continue development of the line’s expedition-oriented product in destinations around the world. The appointment comes amidst continued growth at Seabourn, which includes the recent announcement of plans to build two new ultra-luxury expedition ships by the line.

West started at Seabourn by serving as expedition leader during Seabourn’s highly successful inaugural season of four voyages aboard Seabourn Quest in Antarctica and Patagonia between November of 2013 and February of 2014. He was promoted to director in 2017.

A native of South Africa, West is a graduate of the University of Port Elizabeth. After graduating he founded two companies offering scuba diving and outdoor adventure experiences in many of South Africa’s most beautiful and exciting areas. Expanding his experiences beyond Africa, he has participated in expedition travel operations since 2002, sailing on numerous ships and planning and executing expedition programs for half a dozen companies.

He has spent multiple seasons in regions from the circumpolar Arctic to the Antarctic, including East and West Africa, the South Pacific, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Australia and the Mediterranean.

Topdeck Travel Appoints Global General Manager to Lead Customer Innovation

Youth travel expert Topdeck Travel has announced Daryl Raven as its new Global General Manager, joining from Flight Centre Travel Group sister company Back-Roads Touring.

Raven boasts an impressive resume within the global tourism industry, with a wide range of experience in product, operations and general manager roles. Notably, Raven led Back-Roads Touring last year into its most successful year of growth and profitability.

Raven previously held a General Manager role with Tourism Holdings Limited (New Zealand), providing strategic direction across a range of tourism brands driving improved commercial and operational performance. Raven intends to bring this strategic approach to Topdeck as the brand continues to diversify its offering.

Raven said of his appointment: “I’m delighted to be leading the transformation of the group in the face of an ever-changing marketplace, and as our target audience expands to Gen Z. Topdeck holds a rich 45-year history and I am thrilled to immerse myself into the company and work with my team to deliver even better experiences for young travellers.”

Rocky Mountaineer appoints new Director of Sales in APAC market

Rocky Mountaineer, the world’s largest privately owned luxury tourist train, is pleased to announce the appointment of Amber Wilson as Director of Sales for the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Wilson will provide oversight for sales activity in the region including working with trade partners and managing the regional teams, ultimately responsible for sales in Australia and New Zealand. Based in Sydney, Wilson will assume the position on July 23.

Wilson joins Rocky Mountaineer from Silversea Cruises, where she acted as Managing Director for the APAC market. With over 20 years’ experience in travel and tourism, Wilson will bring her expertise from the cruise and hotel background to Rocky Mountaineer’s in-market sales team.