Kenneth Svendsen has been named CEO of Chicago-based Entertainment Cruises, a member of Pritzker Group Private Capital’s family of companies. Svendsen joins the company following nearly three decades in the entertainment, hospitality and travel industries. Most recently, he served as president of the Walt Disney Travel Company. Prior to Disney, Svendsen was senior vice president and global head of sales and reservations for Hilton Worldwide.
Javier Vidal has been named director of business development for Pegasus Transportation, Florida. The company is a major ground transportation provider in Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Vidal is responsible for establishing new international markets and maximizing the use of technological tools and develop products. Vidal comes to Pegasus with more than 18 years of experience in sales and marketing, having served in management positions for companies such as Hotelbeds.com and The Walt Disney Company.
Vishal Suri has been named the new managing director of Kuoni Travel India. (The company was acquired last August from Zurich-based Kuoni by the Fairfax Financial Holdings group, which also owns Thomas Cook India.) Suri had earlier headed the outbound portfolio of Kuoni India. He succeeds Rajeev Wagle who resigned after three years in the position “to pursue his interest outside the organization.” Suri was also once chief operating officer of Thomas Cook India’s leisure operations.
Diego Camacho has joined Madame Tussauds New York as trade sales manager. He comes to the post from New York Water Taxi where he served for five years as tourism sales manager. Prior to that, Camacho was hotel sales coordinator for Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises.
Beth Helle has taken on a new position at Meet Minneapolis. She is now director of brand strategy, after serving for two years as director of tourism. Helle joined the organization in 2008 as an international account executive. Prior to joining Meet Minneapolis, she was a tourism account executive for eight years at Mall of America.
Mark Jaronski has left Visit Orlando, where he served for three years as vice president of global communications, to take over as CEO of Select Registry, a portfolio of more than 320 quality-assured, independent bed and breakfasts, inns and boutique hotels throughout North America. Prior to his tenure at Visit Orlando, Jaronski, a 21-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, served for more than 15 years in various senior positions at different Disney operations.
