HODGE PODGE: Shifts, Shakeups and Occasional Shaftings in the Tour and Travel Industry

Penny McNamara has taken on the role of chief contracting officer for Meeting Point North America, which is a subsidiary of the German tour operator, the FTI Group. She makes the move after spending 15 years with Hotelbeds and Access USA. Most recently, she was regional director of product for Florida and Puerto Rico for Hotelbeds.

David Alexander recently joined OTS Globe in Orlando after leaving Visit Orlando, where he was director of travel industry sales. Previously, he served as regional director, strategic customer development-Americas, for Hotelbeds. He had been with Hotelbeds for nearly a decade.

As the journey to a new future for those managers who’ve recently left Hotelbds continues, it has been announced that Enrique Lozano has joined World2Meet (W2M), the operator which is a part of the Iberostar Group, as regional director for Catalonia and Andorra, Spain. Lozano joins from Hotelbeds, where he served for 16 years. Both Hotelbeds and W2M are headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. According to the Spanish travel trade news site preferente.com, some 40 managers have lost their jobs following the reorganization of the company in the wake of its acquisitions of Tourico Hoidays and GTA.

Jeff Vahle has been named president of Disney Signature Experiences, which includes Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney and Aulani, a Disney Resort in Hawaii. A 28-year veteran of Disney Company, he replaces Karl Holz, who had served in a similar post, and retired last year. Vahle most recently served as executive vice president-facilities and operations services at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts for more than seven years from 2011 until now. He was senior vice president of the same unit from 2006 to 2011. He served as general manager of Disney’s Animal Kingdom for one year, from 1997 to 1998.

Air Canada Vacations has appointed Dana Gain to the role of senior director of sales, groups and partnerships. She joins Air Canada Vacations from Norwegian Cruise Line where she oversaw all aspects of their sales and marketing strategy. Gain has nearly 30 years of experience in new global business development, national sales force leadership, and global market expansion. She will report to directly to Nino Montagnese and will be based out of Air Canada Vacations’ Mississauga office.

Renaud Lenne has joined the sales team of the French tour operator, FTI Voyages, as head of the Nord region and Belgium. He succeeds Delphine Rouet, who is now dedicated to Ile-de-France and Normandy. Renaud Lenne previously worked as a salesman at And Tomorrow’s Sun-Selectour, and more recently at FRAM.

Gregg Gant has taken on a position as senior account executive at the Expedia Group. He joins the company from Travelzoo, where he was business development director, destinations, vacations and airlines. Gant has also served as senior trade manager for Tourism New Zealand.