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

Anna Karnowski has been named senior director of sales for the One World Observatory in New York City. She joins from SPYSCAPE. A veteran of the tour and travel industry for more than a dozen years, Karnowski previously held senior sales positions at Spyscape, New York Water Taxi and Top of the Rock.

Tommy Ryder has started a new position as Regional Head of Sales, North America at Hotelbeds. Prior to than he was in a similar capacity at GTA and Kuoni Group.

Gonzalo del Rio has been named part of the team at American Executive International, a Miami-based receptive tour operator. He joins the company from the V& E Restaurant Group. Prior to that, he was with Hard Rock International, for more than a dozen years, lastly as director, international tour & travel, North America.

Christian Boell has been appointed by Kuoni parent DER Touristik Group to lead its cruise division. He joins the company from Norwegian Cruise Lines, where he was managing director, EMEA. Boell will be tasked with implementing a DER tourism-wide strategy for cruise sales.

Darshika Jones is the new director, North America, for Intrepid Group, the world’s largest adventure travel company. Jones replaces former North American director, Leigh Barnes, who moved into the newly-created role of chief purpose officer in July 2018 to focus on developing Intrepid Group’s purpose-based initiatives. North America has been the fastest-growing region for the Australia-based company. Previously, Jones was the Intrepid Group’s finance director.

UNIGLOBE Travel has announced the appointment of Dean Dacko to the position of regional president of the UNIGLOBE Eastern Canada Region. In his new role Dacko will be directly responsible for the continued growth and success of the region, with a primary focus on new business development, brand marketing, and building relations with all stakeholders domestically and internationally.

A long-time veteran of the tour and travel industry, Dacko has held senior management positions at Air Canada Vacations, Carlson Marketing, Budget Rental Car Canada and Just Vacations Ltd.

Juha Jarvinen has been named executive vice-president, commercial, or Virgin Atlantic. Jarvinen joins from Finnair and brings 20 years aviation experience. He will be responsible for Virgin Atlantic’s network, revenue and loyalty program, and building the airline’s joint venture partnership with Delta Air Lines.

Anna Fawcett has appointed to global head of marketing for Topdeck Travel, a global youth tour operator (“trips for 18-30 somethings” as its own logo puts it) with substantial product in North America. Fawcett previously worked at VisitBritain as global influencer manager where she was involved in the launch of the tourist board’s global brand campaign “I Travel For…” across 20 markets.