Darren Huston, the chief executive of Booking.com and its parent company The Priceline Group, has resigned over a “personal relationship” with an employee who was “not under his direct supervision.” Huston’s decision to leave followed an investigation by independent directors. Gillian Tans, COO, will take over for Huston at Booking.com. At Priceline, Jeffery Boyd, the current chairman, will serve as interim chief executive.
Sheelagh Wylie has been promoted to vice president, business development & head of sales, Midways Attractions, North America at Merlin Entertainments from her previous position as head of trade sales, North America, for the company. A veteran of more than 25 years in the travel and tourism industry, Wyle has held senior sales and marketing positions at several other tourism industry organizations during the course of her career.
Julie Calvert is leaving her post as vice president of communications and strategic development at the Cincinnati USA CVB after 15 years with the organization. The bureau said the move was part of a strategic realignment and expansion of its leadership team. Calvert, will depart June 1 to transition to a new full-time role as executive director of Source Cincinnati, a regional initiative driving national placemaking efforts for Cincinnati.
Also, Jason Dunn has been promoted to vice president of multicultural and community development at the Cincinnati USA CVB. He previously served as director of multicultural affairs. Dunn has been with the bureau for nearly 12 years.
In addition, the Cincinnati USA CVB has announced that Randie Adam has been promoted from director of marketing to a newly-created vice president of marketing and visitor services role. Adam, who has been with the bureau since 2007, previously served with Hocking Hills (Ohio) CVB.
Aviareps, the global tourism GSA based in Munich, has announced the appointment of Edgar Lacker, vice president and commercial director Europe, to the post of CEO, succeeding Michael Gaebler. Gilles Gosselin, current CEO of Aviareps France will be the new vice president Europe. They respectively take up their new duties May 31, 2016. A long-time veteran of the company, Lacker has served in over the years in various positions including sales manager and vice president, Europe.
The San Diego Tourism Marketing District has announced the appointment of hotel industry veteran Brian Hughes as its new executive director. Hughes replaces longtime executive director Lorin Stewart, who left to become the interim CEO of Lead San Diego. Hughes has nearly three decades of experience in the hotel industry. Since coming to San Diego in 2008, Hughes worked for Omni Hotels & Resorts, lastly as general manager of the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa.
Jay Santos, longtime inbound tour and travel industry veteran who has worked out of Florida for many year, has been named head of global business development for the Grupo Trend, a top B2B travel company based in Brazil. Previously, Santos had been vice president of global travel industry sales and marketing for Visit Orlando until last December when the organization restructured its sales and marketing operations. Prior to Visit Orlando, Santos held senior positions with Hotelbeds, Access USA and ACC Tours.
