Flavour of the Week: Qantas gets new chief customer officer, Cruiseco’s interim CEO + MORE!
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You industry folk sure have been busy this week, because we’ve got a truckload of industry appointments to show off.
Qantas appoints Stephanie Tully as chief customer officer
Qantas has appointed Stephanie Tully as its new cheif customer officer.
Tully, who previously served as the airline’s executive manager of group brand and marketing, will take over from Vanessa Hudson, who left the role following her appointment as chief financial officer in May this year.
Tully will report directly to Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and join the Group leadership team.
“Stephanie joined Qantas 15 years ago and has worked in a variety of positions across the operational, commercial, customer experience, marketing and strategy areas of the airline and loyalty business,” Joyce said.
“This experience means she brings a deep understanding of our business and customers, and her appointment highlights the depth of talent in our Group executive team.”
Cruiseco appoints Nic Cola as interim CEO
Cruiseco today announced the appointment of Nic Cola as interim CEO following the resignation of Amanda McClelland. Nic will oversee the operations with a focus on supporting internal teams to deliver business objectives.
The newly appointed CEO brings a wealth of strategic, operational and transformational leadership to the organization having over 22 years of general management and CEO experience across a diverse range of business models in traditional media, education, digital media and e-commerce. Cola is an expert in innovative business strategy to deliver growth, among his achievements is being a founding executive of Fairfax Digital which grew to $250m of revenue in 10 years.
Amadeus announces new leaders of Retail Travel Agency team globally and in APAC
Amadeus has appointed Champa Magesh to become the executive vice president of retail in travel channels and managing director EMEA, effective immediately. Magesh, who previously managed this travel channels segment in Asia Pacific, replaces Leon Herce who has left Amadeus.
Taking over from Magesh in Asia Pacific, Amadeus announces the appointment of Ramona Bohwongprasert to become the senior vice president of retail in travel channels, Asia Pacific, effective immediately. In her previous role, Bohwongprasert led the consolidators and networks global organization within the retail travel agency team.
Air Vanuatu expands its team with a new sales representative dedicated to the Victorian market
Air Vanuatu, Vanuatu’s national carrier, is excited to announce the appointment of Jody Southern as a sales representative for Victoria.
Jody Southern joins the Air Vanuatu team – known for the friendliest smiles in the South Pacific –following the launch of the new direct service between Melbourne and Port Vila.
Singapore Airlines appoints new VP public affairs
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced the appointment of Siva Govindasamy as vice president public affairs.
Govindasamy will take over SIA’s corporate communications portfolio from Nicholas Ionides, who has been with the airline for more than 10 years. Ionides is leaving SIA late in October to pursue another career opportunity in Singapore.
Govindasamy will be joining SIA from Airbus, where he has been senior communications manager Asia-Pacific since October 2016. Prior to that he was a journalist for more than 16 years.
Laura-Jane Hawkins joins the Langham as Sydney director of marketing and communications
The Langham, Sydney is excited to welcome Laura-Jane Hawkins to its team in the newly created position of director of marketing & communications.
Laura joins The Langham, Sydney with 10 + years of senior marketing experience across journalism, broadcast and public relations for Ovolo Hotels Hong Kong, Kandima Maldives and Forces TV, London.
From a law graduate to TV reporting on the war in Afghanistan to heading the PR team for an NGO in the Philippines, Laura brings a diverse range of global experience to the role. As director of marketing & communications, Laura will be in charge of bringing a tighter focus on the hotel’s overarching marketing and messaging goals and visions.
Captain Alex charts a course to Australia on Solstice
Celebrity Solstice has said bon voyage to Captain Tasos and welcomed aboard Captain Alex ahead of her return to Australia in October.
Captain Alex has been with Celebrity Cruises for over 18 years, most recently sailing on the newest ship in the fleet, Celebrity Flora and navigating North America and the Caribbean on Celebrity Summit.
Celebrity Solstice will be steered by Captain Alex around Alaska and Hawaii before heading to Australia and New Zealand for Summer down under.
Captain Tasos has led the Celebrity Solstice crew for more than three and a half years, completing more than 70 cruises together and successfully making memories for 218,000 guests. He is moving on to command Celebrity Equinox® ahead of her next season in the Caribbean.
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort welcomes new director of sales
Vivienne Valentine has been appointed director of sales at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort.
She will be responsible for generating top-line revenue for the property by securing new accounts, maintaining existing accounts and executing sales strategies to maximise the profitability of the hotel while elevating guest satisfaction.
Vivienne joins Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort from her previous position as a marketing consultant working in various tourism and corporate roles in Fiji and Australia. Other roles include account manager Australia /New Zealand and China for Namale Fiji Resort; regional director of sales & marketing for Warwick International Hotels South Pacific; and regional marketing officer for Tourism Fiji based in Sydney, Australia.
Philippe Cavory takes charge of The Anam in Cam Ranh
A seasoned professional with almost four decades of experience in the luxury hospitality industry across four continents has been appointed to the helm of the award-winning Anam.
French national Philippe Cavory comes to the 12-hectare resort on Vietnam’s pristine Cam Ranh peninsula after four years with YTL Hotels, during which he oversaw a collection of five-star resorts in Malaysia as area general manager.
Cavory brings a stellar background in luxury hospitality to the independently owned and operated Anam, having worked in senior management roles for some of the industry’s most prestigious names including Cheval Blanc Randheli and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, Banyan Tree properties in the Maldives, Morocco and Laos, and at LUX Grand Gaube in Mauritius.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
air vanuatu amadeus celebrity cruises cruiseco outrigger qantas singapore airlines Sun Island Tours The Anam The LanghamLatest News
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Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash
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SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024
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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!
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Ascott Australia partners with Hotels for Trees
Hoteliers can take a 'Lyf' out of this book and improve their green credentials.
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Victoria’s TAC Top Tourism Town Award winners for 2024
Keep looking in our own backyard. There are plenty of places to go.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy
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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.
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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.
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‘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?
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‘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?
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‘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.
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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!
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‘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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Crystal announces release dates for 2026 itineraries
If you have started collecting 2026 itineraries then here is another one for you.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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InsideAsia Tours launches new incentive that doubles agent commission
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Push to revive Parramatta’s iconic Roxy Theatre into entertainment destination
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Qatar Airways signs an expansion to Boeing 777-9 aircraft order
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Flight Centre shares down following revised profit guidance
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