Sneak a peek at the industry’s latest movers and shakers! We’re very impressed with this bunch – the most impressive thing we’ve done lately is clean our room.

Aqua-Aston Hospitality names Fred Mayo general manager

Aqua-Aston Hospitality, a leader in hospitality management known for its owned brands in Hawaii, the continental United States, and Costa Rica, has announced the appointment of Fred Mayo to the role of general manager of its 132-unit Aston at the Maui Banyan rental program, as well as general manager of the property’s Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO).

Located in the town of Kihei on the island of Maui, Aston at the Maui Banyan offers convenient condominium living with fully equipped one- and two-bedroom suites and comfortable hotel rooms.

Guests enjoy walking distance access to restaurants and shops; activities like swimming, snorkelling, and sailing directly across the street at popular Kamaole Beach Park II; and golfing at three championship golf courses in the Wailea Resort area, just a short drive away. Aston at the Maui Banyan offers many additional amenities, including two swimming pools, two jet spas, a tennis court, and barbecue and picnic facilities perfect for families and larger parties.

As general manager of both the rental program and the AOAO, Mayo leads all aspects of resort operations for Aston at the Maui Banyan, including owner relations; guest services and satisfaction; resort administration; and overseeing marketing, sales, and reservations initiatives. Previously, Mayo served as the general manager of Lahaina Shores Beach Resort, Kapalua Villas and various Aston Hotels & Resorts properties in Hawaii. He has more than two decades of industry experience.

Travel Partners announces key business development appointments

Following on from the recent appointment of Kate Cameron as general manager, Travel Partners announced today the appointment of two key business development positions in their sales division increasing the business development team to six.

Joining the group from 3 December 2018, Travel Partners welcomes Sharyn Van der Veeken as business development partner for Victoria, and Nathan Segal, business development partner for New South Wales.

A seasoned travel industry professional with almost 20 years working in sales and business development for leading brands, Van der Veeken was previously national business manager for Cornerstone People Solutions, where she was responsible for strategic business development and partnerships.

Segal is a multi-award winner sales professional who also brings a wealth of industry experience to Travel Partners, with a career spanning more than a decade in the travel industry working for the Flight Centre Travel Group in various capacities including team leader, general manager and more recently travel manager at Corporate Traveller.

TravelManagers the pinnacle of a successful travel career

When it comes to making major career decisions, the criteria are likely to include a company that is both innovative and supportive of its people, work that is both challenging and rewarding while delivering a good work-life balance, and colleagues who are fun and supportive. Having found these elements in abundance during four very happy years with TravelManagers, one personal travel manager (PTM) has now made the difficult decision to close her laptop, farewell her clients and colleagues and enter the world of retirement.

Karin Tunbridge, representative for Craigmore, SA, has been involved in the travel industry since the end of 1997 after a holiday in the UK. A year or so later during a stint of maternity cover she quickly realised that she had found her dream job. However, it was a chance conversation with a roommate on a Canada famil in 2011 that led her to joining the TravelManagers family – a move that she says took her home-based consulting business to an entirely new level and has been the high point of her travel career.

Tunbridge says the decision to retire has not been an easy one, as she is reluctant to leave both a career that she loves and what she describes as her “true travel family”, but she is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends. She and her husband are excited about their travel plans and having the freedom to spend more time together.

Fijian Favourite, Turtle Island, says Bula to Barking Owl Communications

Sydney based boutique PR agency, Barking Owl Communications, has been appointed by Turtle Island, a privately owned island in Fiji, to execute a public relations program to increase the profile in the Australian and New Zealand markets of the 500-acre island paradise.

The communications program will include the management of an extensive news bureau and the organisation of media visits which will extend to traditional news and travel journalists, influencers and ambassadors.

Turtle Island is owned by American entrepreneur and eco-visionary Richard Evanson and is today operated by his son, Richard Evanson Jr. who is based in Fiji and is the managing director overseeing the day to day operations, while daughter Racheli Evanson, based in Australia, is the marketing director and responsible for all marketing initiatives including overseeing the PR program.

Of the appointment, Racheli Evanson said, “We have always been a sought-after destination for travellers from Australia and New Zealand but as Fiji becomes increasingly popular we want to remind people to think about Turtle Island. After an agency search, we felt that Barking Owl Communications’ in-depth knowledge of the travel market and their strong understanding of both traditional and social media could help to elevate the property’s awareness in this market.”