Need an excuse to indulge in Happy Hour frivolities this afternoon? Raise a glass to these movers & shakers.

MTA welcomes Neil Robertson

Neil Robertson, MTA’s new head of product

MTA – Mobile Travel Agents has appointed Neil Robertson to the senior position of head of product.

Robertson joins MTA from Virgin Australia where he held both national management and state roles across diverse portfolios that included industry and corporate sales, group travel, and program development for the SME markets.

Most recently he was involved in the customer experience journey and product development for the airline.

Robertson is well known across the travel and aviation industry, having contributed as a member on industry and government advisory panels and with roles at Thai Airways, Consolidated Travel, Airline Marketing Australia, Gulf Air, Stella and World Aviation.

Canuckiwi’s new accounts director

Canuckiwi is expanding its presence in Australia with the recent appointment of account director for Australia, Hannah Wright.

Based in Melbourne and with over 20 years of industry experience, Wright has held senior roles in product management, marketing and sales.

Most recently, Wright held the position of North American product manager at the APT Travel Group, bringing with her a strong understanding of destination marketing and product development. She also has previous experience in both marketing and hotel management to bring to the team.

Wright will now focus on travel trade in Australia including cooperative strategies with key wholesale, retail trade partners and airlines, and consumer partnerships in collaboration with the PR and media team at Canuckiwi.

Tour guide association’s new management committee appointments 

Leanne-Saward-TGA-President

Tour Guides Australia recently held its 2022 AGM, appointing Leanne Saward as its new president.

Another ten appointments on the day saw the management committee now representing Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

The new management committee appointments included Birgitta March, Greg Esnouf, John Hart and Rosemary Maimonis. Appointments to the association’s executive are Leanne Saward (president), Susan Rees (vice president), Michelle Jago (secretary), and Katy Pavlova (treasurer). Catherine Cardinet, James McFarlane, and Julian Nicolle return to the committee. Both outgoing president Jim McInerney and treasurer Paul Perrottet did not seek reelection at the meeting but will continue to support the committee during the transition.

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa’s key executive appointments

(From L to R) David Bell, Mary-Louise Corcoran, Akshay Singh

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa has announced the appointment of several executives, strengthening its leadership team as the resort experiences high occupancy rates and demand from international travellers, with Aussie’s accounting for the majority of bookings.

The new executive appointments include Akshay Singh, area director of sales, marketing & revenue – South Pacific at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) South Pacific, David Bell, director of dining and entertainment at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa and Mary-Louise Corcoran, resort manager at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa.

United hires new SVP of technical operations

Maria Deacon, SVP of technical operations at United Airlines

United Airlines has named Maria Deacon as senior vice president of technical operations, overseeing the carrier’s maintenance operations, ground service equipment and facilities maintenance, supply chain, technical services, and planning and strategy. Deacon will also shape the continued growth and investment in United’s Calibrate apprenticeship program, helping the airline expand and diversify its next generation of maintenance employees.

Most recently, Deacon served as GE Aerospace’s general manager of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). In her new role at the airline, she will report to United’s executive vice president and chief growth officer Greg Hart.

New sales and marketing manager for Palais Royale and La Maison Boutique Hotel

Eric Lewanavanua, RYJ Group’s new sales and marketing manager

The RYJ group directors have appointed Eric Lewanavanua as their new sales and marketing manager.

In a newly created role, Lewanavanua will be responsible for overall sales and marketing including the repositioning of the Palais Royale and the La Maison Boutique Hotel, which are centrally located in the heart of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains region of NSW.

Lewanavanua brings with him over 15 years’ of experience in global sales and marketing in tourism, events as well as the not-for-profit sector.

Featured image: Canuckiwi’s new account director for Australia, Hannah Wright