Industry movements: DNSW, Oceanwide Expeditions, Bench Africa and more!
![Industry movements: DNSW, Oceanwide Expeditions, Bench Africa and more!](https://www.travelweekly.com.au/wp-content/themes/bandtv1/img/default.png)
There are some pretty high flyers in this week’s round-up of industry appointments, and it’s not just because they catch a lot of flights.
New chair for Destination NSW
Sally Loane (featured image) has been announced as the new chairperson of Destination NSW, with Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin thanking outgoing chair Christine McLoughlin AM.
Loane is a highly experienced non-executive director who serves on the boards of Chubb Insurance Australia, Venues NSW and Pankind, the Australian Pancreatic
Cancer Research Foundation.
From 2014-2021, Loane was the CEO of the Financial Services Council, is currently on the Advisory Board of Orizontas, is a trustee for Sydney’s Hyde Park ANZAC Memorial, a global ambassador for Business Events Sydney and a member of chief executive women.
Oceanwide Expeditions appoints new CEO
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Oceanwide Expeditions’ CEO Clemens Van der Werf
Oceanwide Expeditions’ board of directors has appointed Clemens Van der Werf as chief executive officer.
Van der Werf is a results-driven executive with over 20 years of leading and building international businesses and has broad experience in the (expedition) travel, yachting, maritime, shipping and private aviation industries.
He served as president & CEO of companies dedicated to dealing with high-end customers and focused on creating first-class customer experiences.
Merlin Entertainment appoints Scott M O’Neil as CEO
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Merlin Entertainment CEO Scott M O’Neil
Merlin Entertainments has announced the appointment of 25-year sports and entertainment industry veteran Scott M. O’Neil as chief executive officer.
O’Neil will be responsible for overseeing the business operations and global growth for Merlin Entertainments across its 147 attractions in 24 countries. O’Neil’s appointment comes following outgoing CEO Nick Varney’s decision to retire after 23 years.
O’Neil was most recently CEO for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), a portfolio of sports, entertainment, and investment properties, where he oversaw more than $2bn growth in enterprise value, from $415m to $2.5bn, through his focus on talent, culture, and guest experience.
Andy Kirkman named Bench Africa’s new trade relations manager
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Andy Kirkman, Bench Africa’s new trade relations manager
Andy Kirkman joins Bench Africa following a 2-year hiatus from the industry due to COVID.
Previously Adventure World head of sales, Kirkman has been welcomed into the Bench ‘pride’ to shape and ultimately spearhead the company’s sales strategy as they chart their way forward out of the pandemic with trade partners as their core focus.
Intrepid’s new chief technology officer
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Anu Karunatilaka Intrepid Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Intrepid Travel has announced the appointment of Anu Karunatilaka as chief technology officer (CTO), in a new role that will lead digital transformation across the company’s global operations.
Having been with Intrepid for 15 years, Karunatilaka’s knowledge and expertise will be critical in delivering leading technology to customers post-pandemic and supporting business growth. The new role has been created to effectively implement Intrepid’s latest 2025 Digital Transformation Strategy across all functions of the business.
Karunatilaka will continue to be based in Colombo but will travel frequently to Melbourne and other regional centres. He will be responsible for the design, development, security, delivery, and management of technology to support Intrepid’s business needs and growth strategies.
He will commence in the new role starting December.
Discova appoints James Munro as global director of product
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James Munro, Discova’s new head of product
Global destination management company, Discova has appointed James Munro as global director of product, replacing Susan Ogden, who is moving to Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) wholesale brand GOGO Vacations as their new executive vice president.
With over 25 years of senior leadership experience, Munro joins Discova from Ignite Travel Group, where more recently he held the position of product development director.
Based out of Queensland, Munro will be responsible for Discova’s end-to-end product capabilities, from procurement and design and development to distribution and will commence his role on 28 November 2022.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Bench Africa destination nsw Discova intrepid merlin entertainment Oceanwide ExpeditionsLatest News
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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
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 […]
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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
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 […]
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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
Double commission! We like the sound of that. Hope their system doesn't crash as a result.
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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.
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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.
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Flight Centre shares down following revised profit guidance
The stock market moves fast. What will the rest of the week hold for Flight Centre?