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

Sally Berry Davis is leaving her position as global sales and marketing manager at the Corning Museum of Glass at year’s end. Davis, who has been with the attraction for more than eight years, plans on devoting her efforts full time to growing her tourism training and consulting company and on helping others become China ready marketers. Her website is SallyDavisBerry.com. (You can read last month’s interview with Ms. Berry here.)

Christine Valls has been named by American Airlines as its new general sales director for Florida, the Caribbean and the Hispanic market in the United States. A native of Miami, Valls has been with American, and operating out of Miami, for more than 28 years. She began her career at the carrier as a management intern, advancing over the years to her current post.

Kane Webb will resign his position as head of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism at the end of the year, as the department prepares to merge with the Department of Arkansas Heritage. The departure was announced in a press release from Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s office, which said that Webb is taking a job as the director of executive communications at Walmart Inc. Hutchinson tapped Webb to head Parks and Tourism in October 2015. Webb served various tenures as an adviser and speechwriter for the Republican governor.

After more than eighteen years, Lucille Yokell is leaving her position as director of sales and marketing of the Wellington Hotel in New York City. A long-time veteran of the tour and travel industry, Yokell had previously operated her own hospitality and consulting firm serving hotels, restaurants, tour operators and shopping venues.

Mark Mitchell, has left Affinion International Travel, where he was senior business director, “to pursue other opportunities.” Mitchell, who joined the company from TUI in 2008, was part of the team which set up Affinion and progressed through the organization to his most recent role as senior business director.

David Peterson is leaving his post as interim director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs to join the Carson City Culture and Tourism Authority as its next executive director. At the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Peterson started as chief operations and finance officer in September 2014 before becoming deputy director in January 2017. Prior to that, Peterson was director of research at the Nevada Commission of Tourism, Nevada Department of Tourism, from September 2001 to August 2014.

Haley Ward has been named sales director at Hudson Yards Experiences in Manhattan, New York City. She joins the organization from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she was head of tourism sales and marketing. Ward was with the Museum or four years.

J.D. O’Hara has been named president of Travel Leaders Group, the parent company of 19 major travel agency brands, including Altour, Barrhead Travel, Colletts Travel and others. O’Hara joins from Certares Management, LLC, where he served as senior partner. He was also part of the original management buyout of Carlson Leisure Group from Carlson Companies in January 2008.

Brad Jones, recently left his post as executive director of Visit Rochester (Minn.) to take over as executive director of Visit Bellevue. He had been with Visit Rochester for 13 years. Prior to that, Jones had been executive director of the Macknaw Area CVB.

Zachary Holifield has been named director of leisure business development for Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast. He joins the organization from the state’s Visit Mississippi DMO, where he served for more than four years.

Anita Nuñez Cepollaro has been name national sales manager at Visit Baltimore. A veteran of nearly two decades in sales and business development, she joins the DMO from the Hiltons of Washington D.C., where she was senior sales manager. Nuñez Cepollaro has also served as brand sales manager with Meet Puerto Rico.

Bob Harris has been appointed executive vice president of sales for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, which also serves as the area’s DMO. Harris brings significant CVB sales and marketing experience to the Myrtle Beach area. Harris has worked at the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance in leadership roles since 2007. Previously, Harris worked at the Georgia Department of Economic Development as director of global sales and marketing.