With all the glum news coming out of travel lately, it’s great to know that companies near and far keep on keeping on, with new appointments left, right and centre.

WRD expands all-female team with appointment of sales and networking manager

World Resorts of Distinction (WRD) has expanded its all-female team with the appointment of Lauren Anderson to the newly-created role of sales and networking manager.

Anderson joins after stints at Tourism Australia, Flight Centre Travel Group and The Travel Corporation.

Visit USA announces 2020 committee

Following its recent annual general meeting, Visit USA Organisation (Australia) has today announced its executive committee and committee for 2020.

Lucy Rowe of Kent Marketing (the incumbent president) has been elected president of the organisation for 2020–22 and is supported by the below newly formed committees:

Visit USA 2020 executive committee

• President: Lucy Rowe, Kent Marketing – representing Visit Dallas and Visit Fort Worth
• Vice president: Caroline Davidson, Davidson Communications – representing Visit Denver and Great American West
• Secretary: Sarah Stevenson, The Walshe Group – representing NYC and Company
• Treasurer: Jessica Luxton, GTI Tourism – representing Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Visit USA 2020 committee

• Polly Simmons, Colorado Tourism Office
• Simran Mediratta, Gate 7
• Giselle Radulovic, Hawaii Tourism Oceania
• Cheree Farrell, Delta Air Lines
• Andrea Robinson, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
• Belinda Harvy, Caesars Entertainment
• Kathleen Finneran, Los Angeles Tourism
• Tommy Lindblad, United Airlines
• Bart Druitt, Hawaiian Airlines
• Joanne Motta, Travel Nevada.

QT Hotels and Resorts appoints general manager for QT Auckland

QT Hotels and Resorts has announced Doron Whaite as general manager for the highly-anticipated QT Auckland, scheduled to open mid-year.

Boasting a 15-year career in hospitality, Whaite’s extensive industry experience will ensure the successful launch and ongoing commercial achievements of QT’s newest property in New Zealand.

Whaite has been a key member of the QT senior management team for the past three years, contributing to the QT product offering, brand and culture. Most recently, he’s been driving hotel strategy and operations at QT Sydney, after successfully developing QT Perth’s Rooftop Bar and the celebrated Santini Bar & Grill, which was crowned Best New Restaurant by the 2018 Western Australia Good Food Guide, and one year on, secured the title of Restaurant of the Year at the 2019 awards.

Crown Resorts appoints chief financial officer

Crown Resorts has announced that Alan McGregor has been appointed as the chief financial officer of Crown, subject to the receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals.

During his 15 years with the Crown group, Alan McGregor has held a number of senior financial positions and in 2014 was appointed chief financial officer – Australian resorts.

Celebrity Cruises appoints Emma Mumford in marketing role

Celebrity has appointed Emma Mumford as head of marketing for Australia and New Zealand.

Mumford joins the cruise company after more than a year with Cruiseco, where she held the position of marketing and communications manager from November 2018.

In other news, Celebrity has also revealed it plans to appoint a new public relations manager by the end of March.

Switzerland Tourism welcomes new marketer for ANZ

Switzerland Tourism has welcomed Anthony Wieland to its Sydney team as marketing assistant.

Replacing Esther Grob, who is heading back to Switzerland, Wieland was previously team leader for Switzerland and Canada & Alaska at Entire Group Travel.

He will be working closely with director Livio Goetz and marketing manager Birgit Weingartner to promote and grow the Switzerland product range in Australia and New Zealand.

New general manager announced for Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour

Eugéne Human has been appointed general manager of Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour, which is set to open in May 2020.

Eugéne takes the reigns of the new-build 152-room hotel after more than three years as general manager at Holiday Inn Sydney Airport. Before this, he was hotel manager at Holiday Inn Potts Point and general manager at ibis Styles Geraldton.

Bookboost welcomes StayNTouch founder to board of directors

Jos Schaap (Pete Letto and asst. Brianna Ince/DC Corporate Headshots)

Jos Schaap, former-CEO and founder of StayNTouch Inc (now part of Shiji Group), has joined the board of directors for hotel guest messaging platform Bookboost.

Schaap will provide advice, support and guidance to the BookBoost team as it expands its customer base and presence across Europe, utilising his connections and thirty years of experience in hospitality technology.

The industry stalwart sold the first mobile PMS, StayNTouch, to Shiji Group in 2018 leaving his position as CEO only in April last year.

Following a sabbatical, Schaap is throwing himself back into the sector working with promising and innovative start-ups.

Serko announces temporary change to board chair

Serko Limited has announced that Simon Botherway will be taking a temporary leave of absence from the Serko board, but will remain a director on the board, to enable treatment for a recently diagnosed non-life threatening medical condition.

He is similarly taking leave from his other governance roles.

Botherway expects to return to full duties on the Serko board and his other boards later in the year.

He will continue to be available on a regular basis to provide advice to other board members and the executive team.