This is a roundup of news and announcements for PEOPLE moves in travel, tourism and hospitality for May 2016:
Tuesday 24 May 2016
bd4travel goes international
- Jackie Groves has become vice president of sales for personalization specialist bd4travel. The newly-created role puts her in charge of the international sales team. She joins the business from travel software specialist Intuitive.
Monday 23 May 2016:Travelport appoints permanent Eastern Europe head
- Gavin Teale becomes managing director for the region after running operations on an interim basis since December last year. The position was previously held by Marcin Pilarksi who is now vice president of global product and marketing at the company. Teale has worked with Travelport (and its predecessors) since October 1994, with roles in product management, customer services, operations and product marketing.
Duetto promotes two marketing staffers
- In his new role as vp of marketing, Eric Stoessel, the former senior director of content, will now oversee all of the San Francisco-based revenue management software company's marketing, events, and other communication efforts. Over in the Las Vegas office, Nelson Veiga has been promoted to executive vp of operations.
Wednesday 18 May 2016:UpLift raises its game
- US-based payments marketing platform UpLift has recruited Chris Vukelich. He was most recently at Egencia and his CV includes stints with BA, Hilton, Travelport and eNett. UpLift also has a travel background - it was founded by Brian Barth and Stu Kelly who were part of the team which set up one of the first travel metasearch buisnesses, SideStep. Kayak paid $200m for Sidestep in 2007.
InvitedHome brings in revenue management expert
- Owen Miller joins the US-based vacation rental platform as its first head of revenue management. He joins from Frontier Airlines where he had a similar role overseeing pricing, seat inventory and sales. He has previously worked for the Seabury Group as a consultant to airlines around the world and with Continental Airlines.
Monday 16 May 2016:DHISCO hires from Sabre
- Lori King joins the hotel distribution platform as its vice president of global implementation and interface services, overseeing the technical integration of the company's clients. Prior to joining DHISCO, King was global program director for Sabre, with earlier stints with the company in strategy and marketing.
Friday 13 May 2016:Travelport hires hotel source chief
- Peggy Bianco joins the company to be its vice president for head of hotel sourcing, reporting to senior vice president for hospitality, Niklas Andreen. Bianco was most recently the group vice president for global hotel services at Orbitz Worldwide, with previous stints at Starwood and Hyatt.
Monday 9 May 2016:Travel Tripper opens India office
- The hotel reservation IT provider will establish its first presence in the country in Hyderabad. Running the facility will be Sathish Nuggu, as managing director, having joined the company from Accenture where he ran projects for Starwood, Marriott and Hilton.
Secret Escapes heads to Asia-Pacific
- The hotel deals website has opened operations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia, its first foray into the region. The expansion follows its $60 million Series C cap-raise in 2015 and entry into North America and other European markets.
Friday 6 May 2016New venture for Travelocity ex-CEO
- Online travel veteran Michelle Peluso has re-joined investment firm Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV). Peluso launched last-minute OTA Site59 in 1999 and sold it to Travelocity for $43 million in 2002, where she spent the next seven years as CEO. She will be a venture partner based in TCV's New York office.
Tuesday 3 May 2016:eNett jigs board of directors
- Majority-owner Travelport CEO, Gordon Wilson, will become chairman of the payment tech provider, alongside fellow senior Travelport execs Bernard Bot and Thomas Murphy, CFO and general counsel respectively. Veteran payment figure Elizabeth Buse (ex-Visa) joins Anthony Hynes (eNett CEO) and Rob Bishop from minority shareholder Optal make up the board of directors.
Clicktripz lands new VP in APAC
- Ex-senior business development manager at Skyscanner, Jennifer Chua, joins as the travel tech specialist's new vice president for Asia-Pacific. Chua started in the world of GDSs with Abacus and then Amadeus, before joining Travelocity and most recently Skyscanner.
AirPortr finds its borders
- The luggage web service has recruited ex-UK Border Force director general Tony Smith as its senior government affairs advisor. Danielle Sharp joins the company to become head of security and compliance, joining from Gatwick Airport where she was border security manager.
Paxport hires from CWT
- Mats Torebrandt will become the travel retail provider's new sales director, joining from Carlson Wagonlit Travel. He has previously worked for Amadeus Scandinavia and American Express.
NB:Business people moving up ladder image via Shutterstock.