Flavour of the Week: LATAM’s new CEO, RCL gets new agency, Uber Air appoints boss + MORE!
There has been an awful lot of movement in the travel industry recently, so we’ve prepared a mammoth wrap-up of all the latest appointments to give you some to toast to down at the pub later today.
Australian Cruise Association announces new committee appointments
New executive and management committee appointments were voted on last Friday, September 6 at the AGM held at the Australian Cruise Association (ACA) Conference in Geelong.
Two positions were replaced, with Thor Elliott (Fremantle Ports) stepping down at the end his six-year term and his role as ACA treasurer, and Jay McKenzie (Bob Wood Cruise Group) also finishing her term. Matthew Carley (Port of Brisbane) and Karlie Cavanagh (Inchcape Shipping Services) were voted onto the committee. Scott Lovett (Tourism NT) and Martin Bidgood (Intercruises) have been re-appointed to the committee.
LATAM Airlines announces new CEO
LATAM Airlines Group announced today that its CEO, Enrique Cueto Plazo, will step down from his role on March 31, 2020, after 25 years. The position will be assumed by the group’s current Chief Commercial Officer, Roberto Alvo Milosawlewitsch.
This announcement comes at a time of stability for the group, which has successfully overcome long periods of a complex global and regional context, to carry out a seldom seen transformation in the airline industry to create the largest airline group in Latin America.
The succession will take effect on March 31, 2020, allowing for a well-planned transition, while maintaining focus on strategic priorities and ongoing projects.
Busabout welcomes new marketing manager
Busabout, the flexible travel experts, are delighted to welcome new marketing manager Jacinda Alderson to their Australian team.
Jacinda joins Busabout after two years with Easyjet in the UK as brand, content and social manager, and then as interim head of brand, launching award-winning campaigns during her time. Prior to that Jacinda spent six years working with News Corp in a variety of areas including financial reporting, politics and as an award-nominated business columnist. She was also previously integral in leading Wotif.com’s customer service team, fraud investigation team and supplier accounts.
Jacinda’s passion for travel and wealth of experience across the marketing umbrella will be a real asset to the Busabout team and she is currently on the road experiencing the very best of Busabout on Hop-on Hop-off Europe & Sail Croatia.
Tourism Noosa appoints new CEO
Tourism Noosa is delighted to announce the appointment of Melanie Anderson as the organisation’s new chief executive officer.
Anderson has had a long career in senior executive roles spanning a number of industries nationally and internationally. Her most recent experience has been working for the Queensland Government as general manager of tourism industry development within the State Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and Commonwealth Games.
Anderson also led the Queensland Government’s strategy to grow the tourism industry and create jobs by delivering Outback Tourism Infrastructure programs, including promoting the Year of Outback Tourism for 2019. These programs developed 30 new tourism products across Queensland and delivered new employment opportunities for the region.
Previously Melanie oversaw the growth of the aviation industry in Queensland during her time in the Department of State Development and has worked with both Brisbane Marketing and the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, attracting major events and visitors to Queensland.
Melanie will commence her role as CEO for Tourism Noosa in early November, taking over the role from Steve McPharlin who is taking an extended overseas holiday with his family.
Avis Budget Group appoints Keith Rankin as president of international region
Avis Budget Group, the leading global provider of mobility solutions, has recently appointed Keith Rankin as president of the international region, which includes Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA), Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Before his appointment, Rankin was chief executive for the automotive division at Barloworld in South Africa – a licensee partner of Avis Budget Group. Barloworld is a distributor of leading global brands, providing integrated rental, fleet management, product support and logistics solutions.
Rankin started his career at Avis in 1998 where he led the financial planning department. In 2000, Rankin was involved in the purchase of Avis businesses in Norway and Sweden, then later appointed as Chief Executive of Avis Car Rental Southern Africa in 2004.
Royal Caribbean Cruises appoints Thinkerbell as strategy, creative and PR agency
Thinkerbell has been appointed the strategic, creative and PR agency for RCL Cruises after a competitive pitch process led by EnthDegree.
The appointment takes effect immediately and includes marketing strategy and creative for Royal Caribbean International as well as public relations responsibilities for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara.
Havas Media wins TripAdvisor’s global media account
Havas Media has been appointed as TripAdvisor’s global media agency of record, following a competitive global pitch.
The win bolsters Havas Media’s travel credentials in Australia by adding to their current category clients Destination NSW, Emirates and Resorts World Sentosa.
The new partnership with TripAdvisor will draw on Vivendi, the parent company of Universal Music Group, StudioCanal, Gameloft and Havas, to help build engagement with the TripAdvisor brand with hundreds-of-millions of travellers worldwide.
The appointment is one of a series of wins in the travel category in 2019 for the agency.
Including expanding the agency’s remit on Destination New South Wales to include all of its social media planning, buying and content, as well as a very successful award season for long term agency-client Emirates with their campaign ‘Find Your True North’.
Uber appoints Natalie Malligan as head of Uber Air
Uber has announced Natalie Mulligan as the head of Uber air for Australia, where she will be responsible for making Uber’s ambitious urban aviation plans a reality.
Australia will be the first international market outside of the United States for Uber Air, with Melbourne being selected as the third official pilot city alongside Dallas and Los Angeles. The plan is for commercial operations to commence from 2023.
Malligan previously worked in Uber’s ridesharing business as head of cities for Australia and New Zealand. She was approached to lead Uber Air in Melbourne while on maternity leave.
Hilton Fiji welcomes two new members to its management team
Hilton Fiji welcomed two new members to its management team this month. Nauman Hasan has taken on the role of hotel manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Fiji – Sonaisali Island, while Waleed Hassan has joined as cluster commercial director of both Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa and DoubleTree by Hilton Fiji – Sonaisali Island.
Manish Puri appointed GM of Six Senses Shaharut in Israel
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has tapped Manish Puri as the general manager for its upcoming property, Six Senses Shaharut, Israel, scheduled to open in early 2020.
Puri joins Six Senses Shaharut following a stint as general manager of Six Senses Uluwatu, Bali. He began his Six Senses career as general manager of Evason Ma’In Hot Springs and Six Senses Spa in Jordan before serving five years with the multi-award winning Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand, followed by Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain in China.
With more than 25 years in the hospitality industry and an 11-year veteran with Six Senses, Puri graduated from the prestigious Oberoi School of Hotel Management and completed the Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership program with the University of Oxford. Besides completing the Cornell University Professional Development Program with an Advanced Certification in Real Estate and Hotel Investment, he had also successfully completed the General Manager’s Program. Manish is also a certified wine sommelier by the International Wine Guild of America.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Australian Cruise Association Avis Budget Group busabout Havas Media Hilton Fiji latam Royal Caribbean Cruises Six Senses tourism noosa tripadvisor uberLatest News
Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash
It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]
SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024
AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]
Journey Beyond launches first brand-led campaign during Paris Olympics
Journey Beyond is pushing the boundaries. On The Ghan, you can't even see them!
Ascott Australia partners with Hotels for Trees
Hoteliers can take a 'Lyf' out of this book and improve their green credentials.
Victoria’s TAC Top Tourism Town Award winners for 2024
Keep looking in our own backyard. There are plenty of places to go.
Uniworld partners with Camilla Franks with Egyptian-inspired collection
We are in de-Nile about making puns combining Crocs and leopard prints, given this luxe partnership.
Aussies at Paris Olympics anxious about travel risks, with incidents already recorded
Fortunately one of our biggest gold medal hopes still held onto his pedals.
Banyan Tree Seaview Villas elevates Laguna Lang Co
If you've ever played golf in the tropics, start early. LIke way early. It's hot! Damn hot.
Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales
Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]
Wendy Wu unveils new Japan travel brochure and itineraries
Get outta town! Off-beat Japan will be a lot less congested we figure than the usual tourist hotspots.
UK and Europe event organisers look to venues with sustainability integrity, ICC Sydney survey finds
Here in Sydney, you can even eat the table centrepieces. Although we advise they be cooked first.
Renos Rologas new general manager ANZ for FCM Travel
Two decades in the travel game! Let's hope Renos is in for the long haul at FCM.
Untamed Escapes to offer Cultural Day Tour from Port Lincoln in partnership with Maba Idi
International visitors travel thousands of kilometres for this experience. Time to share.
Luxe Finish Line Penthouses offer the best vantage point for the finish of the Sydney-Hobart
Long have we been following the yachts leavings Sydney Harbour and one day, we will see the finish, from this place!
In a busy world, proximity to nature is the new luxury
Forget Raffles, treat your nearest and dearest to a stay at the local campsite. They'll be super close to nature.
Circular Quay welcomes new Korean dining experience to Sydney Place
We once took Korean-American chef David Chang around Koreatown, Eastwood. Not happy about driving rain, loved the food.
MSC Cruises unveils a new outdoor kid-friendly attraction on World America
Drop your kid down the jaws of a shark and they come out 11 decks below. Sounds good to me.
Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy
Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]
Australian travellers abandon peer-to-peer stays and gravitate back to big hotels, survey finds
Doom scrolling Airbnb for the best-possible stay options two days out from departure was wearing us down, apparently.
Quark Expeditions launches the Ultimate Summer in the Arctic sweepstakes for travel advisors
Summer in the Arctic still means it's freezing. But hopefully a winning sweepstakes tickets will warm your cockles.
‘I bet it smells weird’ – Internet divided over floating restaurant in China
I you are still feeling peckish at the end of your meal, their fish tank is full. But can you eat koi?
‘Turn up in the Northern Territory this Spring’ campaign deals
Agents and airlines get all hot and sweaty over these enticing deals. Or did someone just turn the air-conditioning up?
‘Like nothing on earth’: Saudi Arabia’s new Treyam resort set in a Star Wars-style landscape
As long as Jar Jar Binks is not there, we would like a seat at the Mos Eisley Cantina please.
Raffles Hotels and Resorts is set to open in Tokyo in 2028
Time to get your vision boards at the ready! Raffles is landing in Tokyo!
‘A true honour’ – Andrew Stark wins Flight Centre Director’s Award for the second time
Congratulations Andrew! If you're a fan of British reality TV you might notice a familiar face.
Club Med debuts travel agent portal 2.0 with bonus prize for tops sales
See those people by the pool. That could be you. Start selling through the portal people!
Envoyage announces 2024 Australian Icons and rewards event in the Maldives
We were going to edit our name into the list but we chickened out.
HIF Global signs collaboration agreement with Airbus on eFuels
We know it's a good thing but can a jet fuel geek out there send in a diagram explaining this please.
Crystal announces release dates for 2026 itineraries
If you have started collecting 2026 itineraries then here is another one for you.
Cairns Airport unveils display of support for FNQ youth
If you were craving some winter sun now you have a cultural reason for booking a flight to Cairns.
Viking announces six new cruise itineraries
Now's the time to start learning Putonghua, Nihongo and Lhasa. Or maybe even know where these are spoken.
Join Qatar Airways, Celebrity Cruises & Klook – Showcase Your Brand at Click Frenzy Travel August 2024!
Clicking calmly will also be welcome when it comes to this particular deal. Click calmly here to find out more.
InsideAsia Tours launches new incentive that doubles agent commission
Double commission! We like the sound of that. Hope their system doesn't crash as a result.
Push to revive Parramatta’s iconic Roxy Theatre into entertainment destination
Long have we wished for this iconic heritage cinema to be revived as a tourist destination. Still waiting.
Qatar Airways signs an expansion to Boeing 777-9 aircraft order
Known as a quiet rural town in England, the entire global aviation industry now has its eyes on Farnborough.
Flight Centre shares down following revised profit guidance
The stock market moves fast. What will the rest of the week hold for Flight Centre?