Kelly Schulz has been named senior vice president, communications and public relations at New Orleans & Company. Previously, she served as vice president and CEO, operations—as well as vice president of communications—for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is headquartered in Memphis. Kelly is returning to New Orleans & Company, where she was vice president of communications for more than eight years (2006-2014). She has also served as director of communications for Meeting Professionals International.
Victoria “Vic” Isley has been selected as president and CEO of the Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau. She replaces former CEO Stephanie Pace Brown, who left the organization last July to become executive vice president of SMARInsights, and Indianapolis-based research and marketing firm. Most recently, Isley served as chief sales and marketing officer for the Bermuda Tourism Authority for more than six years. Isley began her career in tourism in the mid-1990s at the Durham CVB as the director of marketing and communications. She’s since held senior executive positions at Tampa Bay CVB and Destination DC in Washington, D.C. She also served as chief operating officer at Destination Marketing Association International (now Destinations International).
Intrepid Travel has named Matt Berna its managing director of North America to oversee and expand its Canadian and U.S. operations, including the development of more trips for domestic travelers. Berna comes to the post rom Peak DMC, where he was general manager of global sales. Previously, he was president of AmeriCan Adventures for nearly 10 years. Intrepid Travel is the largest small group adventure travel company in the world. The company offers more than 1,000 escorted tours worldwide, including product in the USA and North America. Tours are offered under the brands Intrepid Travel, Peregrine Adventures, Adventure Tours Australia, and Urban Adventures
After nearly 30 years in the airline segment of the travel and tourism industry—almost 15 years at British Airways—George Bequinot has joined Hablo, a technology platform that connects the travel industry by streamlining communications and driving business between travel agents, tour operators, destinations and private sector travel brands worldwide. The company Is schedule to launch next month. Most recently, Bequinot was partnership manager at British Airways, where he served for nearly 15 years.
Jean Hébert has been renamed chair of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO). The action took place at the organization’s annual general meeting at which Scott Stewart was elected as vice-chair. Formed in 1997, TICO is a not-for-profit corporation wholly financed by Ontario-registered travel agents and wholesalers
Cory Jobe has been named president/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. He comes to the bureau from Chicago’s Navy Pier, where he has been vice president of marketing and communications. Previously, he served as director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. Jobe succeeds Brett Stawar, who had left in August for a similar post in Port Aransas/Mustang Island, Texas.
Georgia Mariano, who recently left Brazilian operator Fllytours Viagens where she was product manager/project manager, has been named product manager for Diversa Turismo do Grupo ARBO. Mariano is well known in the USA, especially in Florida, where she worked with U.S. travel suppliers to bring business to Brazil. She had been with Flytour/MMT Gapnet for nearly 14 years.
Jens Bischof has taken over as chairman of the management board of Cologne-based Eurowings and, as a result, becomes CEO of the second largest airline in the Lufthansa Group. Bischof was previously CEO of the SunExpress airline, also a part of the Lufthansa Group. He succeeds Thorsten Dirks, who is now responsible for IT, digital and innovation in the Lufthansa Group executive board.
Seniors travel specialist tour operator Saga Travel has appointed Nick Stace as its new CEO. Currently the company’s chief strategy officer, Stace takes up the role immediately, overseeing Saga’s Cruise and Tours businesses. He replaces Robin Shaw who left Saga back in June. Stace will retain his responsibility for strategy, along with focusing on ensuring a safe return to service for the cruise line – as soon as government restrictions are lifted. Before joining the company, he held a series of senior leadership roles across charities, consumer-facing organizations and financial services – as well as in regulation. He also served for a while as strategic communications director in the Office of the Prime Minister during the period when Gordon Brown was UK prime minister.
Krystelle Kubicki has been named by specialist ski travel company SNO as head of marketing to head up spearhead its online growth strategy and expansion into beach holidays. Kubicki comes to the London-based organization from STA where she was digital marketing manager. She has also served as marketing manager for Iglu. SNO is planning a soft-launch of mid and high-end beach holidays in 2021.
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber has announced that Michael R. Burns, the current vice president of sales for the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau, will serve as interim president after the recent retirement of Mike Carrier.
From Hannover, Germany-based TUI, the largest tour operator in Europe, has come the announcement of a Transformation of the TUI Group, which involves a Supervisory Board new set-up of Group Management as of January 1, 2021. Highlights include the following.
* Sebastian Ebel becomes new chief financial officer.
* CFO Birgit Conix has decided to leave TUI at the end of the year.
* Peter Kruger assumes responsibility on the executive board for airlines, cruise business, hotel joint ventures and M&A.
* CMO Erik Friemuth leads extended department with marketing, tui hotels & resorts brands and group responsibility for sales and customer operations.
* David Schelp joins the Group Executive Committee as CEO of the growth segment TUI Musement.
