Thomas Cook has appointed Andrew Flintham as managing director for its UK business. He joins the company from Tui UK and Ireland, where he was commercial director. Flintham would take responsibility for the day-to-day operations in the UK beginning March 2018.
Also at Thomas Cook, the company’s former UK managing director Chris Mottershead has been appointed chief of UK source market and group differentiated product. The company said the move would see Mottershead taking responsibility for the relationship with Thomas Cook Group’s “most important partners and hotel procurement.”
Funway has confirmed the departure of national sales manager Andy Travis after more than seven years with the company. Travis, who worked for the tour operator for more than seven years, left at the end of September to “pursue new opportunities.” Travis had previously served in senior positions for The Holiday Team, Youtravel.com and Monarch Travel Group.
F
abrizio Ciafrone is the new Bt2C sales manager for Groupe Paris of TUI France. He will oversee a team of 18 salespeople under the leadership of Ange Derment, director of groups and communities. Previously, Ciafrone was with Karavel / Promovacances, where he created the group and community service departments.
Tamara Whiting has been named director of multicultural sales for Cincinnati USA. Previously, Whiting, who joined the agency in January as a national sales manager, had spent four years as national sales director for Visit Pittsburgh.
Dnata Travel has appointed John Bevan (left) as the new chief executive of its trade division for Europe, including dnata’s Gold Medal and Travel 2 brands. A veteran of more than 25 years in the tour and travel industry, Bevan comes to dnata from Spafinder Wellness; he previously worked for Voyage Prive and lastminute.com. Also joining dnata is Nick Hughes (right), formerly of Attraction World. Hughes will be sales director for the trade division for Europe, with responsibility for the teams at Gold Medal and Travel 2.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has extended the contract of its CEO, Mario Hardy, for another three years beginning Jan. 1, 2018. Hardy joined PATA in 2012 as chief operating officer and was appointed chief executive officer on Nov. 1, 2014. Before joining PATA, Hardy worked for 26 years in specialized aviation businesses with a focus upon data analytics and technology, serving in leadership roles in Montreal, Vancouver, London, Beijing and Singapore.
Nevada tourism director to head Sonoma County Tourism: Claudia Vecchio has been named president and CEO of Sonoma County Tourism. Vecchio, who succeeds Ken Fischang—he abruptly resigned from the post last May after serving nearly 12 years in the post—joins the agency from the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, where she has been director for six years. Fischang went on to become executive director of the Saugatuck Douglas Area CVB in Michigan. Vecchio is scheduled to start on Nov. 1. Since 2011 she had been head of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. Her resumé contains tenures as Ohio’s state tourism director (2003-2006) and vice president of communications for the Branson Lakes Area Chamber/Convention and Visitors Bureau (1998-2002).
