Amanda Darrington has left her post as sales director at Funway Holidays to join Royal Caribbean as sales director for the UK and Ireland. Before her tenure at Funway, Darrington had been head of trade sales at Kuoni Travel UK, where she served for more than seven years.
Etty Scaglia, owner of New York City-based Accent on Dining, has been honored as Outstanding Travel Professional of the Year Award by the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA). She received the honor as part of the Stanley Awards for Excellence, which were announced during the 2017 IITA Summit, February 5-8. The awards dinner was hosted by Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast. They are named after the late Stanley Fisher, one of the founders of the receptive tour operator industry in the USA.
Leanne Pletcher has been named director of public relations for the Maui VCB. A 16-year veteran of Hawaii’s tourism industry, Pletcher brings more than 28 years of experience in communications and marketing to MVCB. She most recently served as director of marketing communications at the Hilton Waikoloa Village from 2003-2017.
Steve Pierson has been chosen to head the sales department of the Greater Birmingham CVB as director of convention sales. Since 2007, he has held the position of national sales manager in the department. Long involved in the hospitality industry, Pierson formerly served as vice president of sales for convention bureaus in Knoxville, Rochester and Houston.
Also, Carman Atchison has joined the staff of the Birmingham CVB as sales manager for the Northeast territory and the arts and culture markets. She previously was sales manager for The Westin and Sheraton Hotels in Birmingham. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Atchison also worked in sales and guest services at Tuscaloosa’s Capstone Hotel.
Helen Adamson has left her position as commercial director at Saga, has been appointed as managing director of Travelopia’s specialist short-haul brands, Sovereign and Citalia. A long-time veteran of the tour and travel industry, Adamson began her career and Thomson and has worked for such companies as Disney and British Airways Holidays. , who recently held the position of commercial director at Saga, will take up her new role on March 1. She succeeds Steph Pritchard, who has retired from the position.
