The importance of Rome-based Venere to the wider Expedia Inc empire is becoming more apparent by the month following its acquisition of the brand in July 2008.
The streamlining of the Expedia businesses late last year indicated a need by chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi wanted to position its myriad of brands in a more efficient way, with accommodation-based services such as hotels.com and Venere falling under the auspices of David Roche, who became a president of the business.
Roche and senior executives have spent the intervening ten months integrating various functions within the businesses and establishing Europe-wide sales teams.
The final major structural move took place this week when expedia.com’s managing director in Asia-Pacific, Arthur Hoffman, switched roles to become worldwide MD of Venere, based in the Italian capital.
Hoffman will remain as a director of Expedia Inc’s China-based OTA business, eLong.