Katja Spitz, a veteran of nearly nine years as an international market executive with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors recently left the organization and has launched Artemis Adventure Tours, which is based in Las Vegas, where Spitz has been active in the travel and tourism industry for more than a decade. Prior to her tenure with the Las Vegas CVA, Spitz was travel industry sales manager for the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.
Anthony Lim has been promoted from his current role as managing director, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold, which he continues to lead, to the position of president, Asia, for The Travel Corporation. Apart from managing the Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold brands in Asia, Anthony, whose background includes previous roles in the healthcare, hospitality and the airline industry, will simultaneously oversee the company’s day-to-day operations while steering business transformation for Asia. Anthony takes over from existing managing director Nicholas Lim, who leaves after over a decade of contributions to TTC.
Sandy James has been named director of business development for Zoox Smart Data, an international provider of technological solutions that harnesses big data to build and monetize customer profiles from existing Wi-Fi networks. James’ primary objective is to accelerate Zoox’s commercial growth in North America and to achieve a leading presence in the region as a “go-to” provider for guest behavior analysis. She will work closely with hotel brands and travel organizations in advocating the value of the Zoox Smart Data and Zoox Media solutions. James joined Zoox after eight years as a service management manager with Radisson Hotel Group.
Unique Vacations Canada has appointed Omar Josephs as senior manager, groups and events.
Josephs has held several positions with Unique Vacations Canada since 2003. He started as a regional business development manager in Ontario before becoming National Manager, Industry Relations. His most recent role was Senior Manager, Events, where he managed Sandals events for travel advisors across North America and the Caribbean.
Kristina Heney has been named as executive vice president, chief marketing officer for the Hornblower Group. Hornblower offers a wide range of water-based experiences with headquarters in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and London. Heney joins the company from Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, where she served for five years. Previously, she was senior vice president for marketing and revenue management for the Madison Square Garden Company, where she worked for 15 years.
Claude Molinari, general manager of Detroit’s TCF Center, has been named president & CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau effective Jan. 1. He’s succeeds longtime leader Larry Alexander, who, earlier this year, announced that he is retiring from the position after 22 years, effective at the end of the year. Prior to his tenure at the TCF Center, Molinari was with the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Kelvin Dunk was recently appointed to the position of head of trade sales at Ski-Lifts, a well-known airport transfer provider now operating in 14 different countries across Europe and North America. Previously, he worked for as UK and Ireland sales manager for Oui.sncf is a subsidiary of SNCF selling passes and point-to-point tickets for rail travel around Europe. He was with the company for more than a dozen years.
Maureen Morgenthien has been named director of marketing for Charlotte County Florida’s Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau. Morgenthien has an extensive tourism marketing background including working in hotel and resort sales and marketing; serving as deputy director, sales & marketing with the Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; and as director of leisure sales & marketing with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau has hired Teresa Savage as its new vice president of business development, the first position to be hired during the COVID-19-driven pandemic. Savage comes to Monterey County from her previous position as the vice president of sales for Visit Napa Valley. Savage also worked, at one time, at the Monterey Marriott hotel.
Abercrombie & Kent has named Martin Froggatt as executive vice president at Abercrombie & Kent USA. He joins the company from Travelopia, the collection of specialist tour operators, where he was managing director and chief sales officer, expeditions, education & events. Previously, he served for more than 13 years at TUI where, lastly, he was managing director-North American specialist and activity division.
Ted Sullivan has been appointed chief marketing officer of Salt Lake City-based Entrada Insights, creator of what it says is the world’s first destination intelligence platform. Formerly vice president of destination analytics, Sullivan has extensive knowledge and experience in global travel marketing, data, analytics, branding and media. With more than 25 years of experience in the tourism and travel industry, Mr. Sullivan will lead Entrada’s global branding and marketing programs as Entrada continues to expand its footprint worldwide.
Stephen Ekstrom has been named chief strategy officer at The Tourism Academy, the Ft. Lauderdale organization whose mission is to provide the education tourism professionals need to advance their careers and grow their businesses. It connects more than 175,000 professionals, industry suppliers and association leaders to quality education on-demand. A veteran of more than 20 years in the hospitality, travel & tourism industry since, Ekstrom comes to his new position after serving for a decade as the president of his own business, the Relate Strategy Group, which specializes in tourism representation and travel trade marketing. His resumé also includes a tenure as the director of sales and marketing at Ripley’s Believe it or Not Times Square, New York City.
