Have you noticed a shortage of car parks and biro pens in your office lately? These new hires could be to blame.

RCL CRUISES APPOINTS BELINDA OSMIC AS NEW AZAMARA BDM

RCL Cruises has announced the appointment of Belinda Osmic to Business Development Manager for Azamara Club Cruises Australia and New Zealand, following Steve Garside’s decision to relocate to his home in the UK.

In her new position, Osmic will work with trade partners throughout Australia and New Zealand, to inspire and educate agents on Azamara’s range of immersive voyages onboard the line’s two boutique-sized, 690-guest ships – Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey.

Osmic has over 12 years’ experience in the cruise industry, most recently as Trade Training Executive for RCL Cruises Australia and New Zealand as well as being a member of the Inside Sales team.

Before joining the shoreside RCL Cruises team in Sydney, Osmic travelled extensively while working as an Activities Manager and Cruise Director on a number of ships in Royal Caribbean’s international fleet, including Allure of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

Director of Sales and Marketing, Kathryn Valk, said her in-depth industry experience will be instrumental in showcasing Azamara to the local market.

“Belle has worked in a range of roles within the RCCL family, giving her a deep understanding of our guests’ needs and those of our travel partners. Belle’s tenacity, passion and industry knowledge will propel the Azamara line to new heights in Australia and New Zealand,” concluded Valk.

Sno’n’Ski to move into Melbourne Market with new BDN

Sno’n’Ski has announced that Kathleen Bowles has been named their new Victorian Business Development Executive. Bowles will be responsible for developing industry relationships within Melbourne and around Victoria.

“We are very pleased to announce Kat’s appointment as our Victorian Business Development Executive. Kat’s industry knowledge and ski resort experience will be a welcome addition to the Sno’n’Ski brand and the agency network will benefit from her knowledge,” said Daniel Walker, General Manager & Director of Sno’n’Ski.

Her valuable industry experience includes Flight Centre retail, Bowles brings with her extensive knowledge of the travel industry to specialise in Ski. Bowles has spent multiple winter seasons in Canada, USA and Japan, which has uniquely equipped her with extensive ski resort knowledge and a passion for ski product.

This appointment marks Sno’n’Ski’s first foray into the Victorian market and coincides with Air Canada’s exciting announcement of the new direct service between Melbourne and Vancouver. Sno’n’Ski has identified this as a great opportunity to be able to support agents from the region with truly excellent knowledge, experience and customer service.

Kat Bowles will be a vital asset to the Sno’n’Ski team, as their new Business Development Executive. Her knowledge, experience and 5 star customer service makes her the ideal candidate to expand Sno’n’Ski within the Victorian market. Sno’n’Ski’s agency network are delighted with the announcement and look forward to building their relationship with the company and their new BDE.

The Unique Tourism Collection is recruiting

Unique Tourism Collection is looking for a Senior Sales Manager to join The Unique Tourism Collection team in Sydney.

The successful candidate will have a minimum five years’ experience in luxury leisure sales and established trade relationships and will be working closely with travel agents, wholesalers and industry partners across UTC’s client accounts.

Responsibilities will include sales calls, product training, roadshows, trade shows, famil programs and implementing strategic sales and marketing initiatives.

For anyone wishing to apply, please send a CV and cover letter to Jonica Paramor at jonica@uniquetourism.com by next Tuesday (4 July).

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Names New GM

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has tapped a veteran of the hospitality industry, William J. Haandrikman, to lead the Grand Dame of Vietnam and its 650 hotel Ambassadors as general manager. Haandrikman was previously general manager of Thailand’s Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit.

Haandrikman will also serve as the area general manager of AccorHotels North Vietnam. He relocated to Hanoi in June with 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having started with Accorhotels in 1992.

Since joining the French hotel chain, Haandrikman has held senior management positions in Amsterdam, Brussels, New York and Moscow, as well as with the Sofitel brand in The Hague, Paris, Vienna, Shanghai and most recently, Bangkok.

During his assignment in Bangkok, Haandrikman served as the cluster general manager for two AccorHotels properties, including the 345-room Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, which under his leadership was positioned as one of the leading five-star properties in Thailand. The Dutch national also oversaw the opening and managed the prestigious Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom in Austria and the well-known Sofitel Paris Defense in France.

Haandrikman is a graduate of Glion University, Hotel School in the Netherlands, ESSEC Executive Management Program and the Executive Management Program at Cornell University in the USA.

“Vietnam is one of the fastest growing markets in Asia,” said Haandrikman.

“I look forward to immersing myself in all that Hanoi has to offer, and to continue building on Metropole’s reputation as one of the top hotels in Asia.”

This June, Vietnam’s most storied hotel also welcomes a new Executive Assistant Manager. Joseph Colina recently moved to Hanoi from Washington D.C. where he was Director of Operations at Sofitel Washington D.C. Lafayette Square.

Colina has more than 10 years of experience in the world’s leading hotels. The American hotelier began his career as the Director of Guest Services at Sofitel Minneapolis in 2005 and later served as the Director of Guest Services at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower and Director of Rooms at Sofitel Washington D.C. Lafayette Square.

Destination NSW Appoints New Regional Manager for UK and Europe

Destination NSW today announced the appointment of Siobhan Burke as the organisation’s Regional Manager UK and Europe.

For the past two years Burke has been Destination NSW’s Marketing Executive for UK and Germany, and has played a key role in the development of Destination NSW’s trade and industry partnership programs.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said Ms Burke has also successfully delivered retail and travel trade programs, which have resulted in increased visitation to the State.

“I am delighted to welcome Ms Burke to this role, which focuses on the development of the UK, France and Germany markets,” Ms Chipchase said.

“These priority markets account for 15 per cent of all international visitors to NSW and more than $1.1 billion in visitor spend for the year ending March 2017.

“As Regional Manager UK and Europe, Ms Burke will work alongside key partners including tourism industry operators, airlines and travel trade specialists to attract visitors to NSW, and ultimately contribute to the NSW Government’s goal of doubling overnight visitor expenditure in the state by 2020,” she said.

Prior to joining Destination NSW, Ms Burke worked with integrated marketing and communications agency Black Diamond in London, where she ran campaigns for Brand USA and Visit California.

Burke said she was delighted to be appointed to the position.

ATEC Congratulates Tourism WA’s new Chairman

Australia’s peak export body, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) today congratulated Nathan Harding on his appointment to the role of Chairman of the Board of Tourism Western Australia.

Mr Harding has extensive insight and knowledge of both the WA and national tourism landscape and, along with his role as a board member of Tourism WA, has been a significant contributor as a former national and state board member of ATEC.

“Nathan is an amazing tourism industry leader and an inspirational mentor to many members of our industry both in WA and nationally,” ATEC Managing Director, Peter Shelley said.

“We congratulate Nathan on his appointment and consider this to be a positive step forward by the Government in putting its support behind West Australia’s tourism industry.

“Tourism is a leading light for the troubled WA economy and it is vital that any changes this new Government makes to Tourism WA’s construct supports the industry and its contribution to job creation and the WA economy in general.

“We have raised our concerns with the WA Government about its restructure plans for Tourism WA and have warned the Premier of the dangers of imposing overly bureaucratic governance.

“As a marketing agency, Tourism WA must be nimble and responsive with a keen eye on market changes, so we are pleased the Government has appointed someone of Nathan’s experience and calibre.

“Nathan will bring his vast tourism knowledge, business capability, industry connections and international marketing expertise to this position and help to build on the success of WA’s tourism industry which is now taken the lead as the state’s leading export earner in a post mining economy.”

Cairns Airport announces new CCO-Aviation

Cairns Airport has appointed Paul McLean as its new Chief Commercial Officer – Aviation.

Chief Executive Officer, Norris Carter, said Mr McLean will be responsible for growing airline services and passenger numbers to Cairns Airport by working with airlines and the tourism industry.

“This is a crucial role as we work to increase our direct international connections to provide convenient access for visitors to the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef and Tropical Rainforests,” Carter.

“Paul has spent the past 12 years with Air Canada in senior sales and marketing roles, most recently as General Manager, Australia and New Zealand.

“His vision and growth strategy for the airline saw it achieve its best years ever in the south Pacific region. He was instrumental in Air Canada launching flights from Vancouver to Brisbane and announcing flights to Melbourne.”

“Paul has also served in leadership roles with aviation industry organisations, the Board of Airline Representatives of Australia (BARA) and Star Alliance Australia. In his time with BARA he successfully managed airline/airport negotiations and led the organisation to more focussed public relations and commercial strategies.”

Paul McLean said, “I am incredibly excited to be part of growing the business and focusing on the objectives and priorities that will achieve the right results for Cairns Airport and all its stakeholders.”