We’ve got some seriously impressive industry up-and-comers today. Meanwhile, the most impressive thing we’ve done lately is cooking spaghetti without lighting it on fire.

SeaLink sets its course for an exciting future

SeaLink Travel Group (SeaLink) has announced a number of exciting new leadership appointments aimed at driving future growth as part of its new ‘One SeaLink‘ strategic plan.

Donna Gauci, Richard Doyle and Paul Victory (pictured) will be the key leaders driving the new structure, forming part of the team working under SeaLink’s newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, Anthony Hayes.

Gauci, previously General Manager, SeaLink South Australia, has been appointed General Manager Brand and Customer Experience. Gauci will drive SeaLink’s national brand and marketing strategy, including business plan development, advertising, publicity, direct consumer and online sales, new product design, research and service delivery.

Doyle, previously Head of International Sales & Marketing, Captain Cook Cruises & SeaLink, has been appointed General Manager Global Sales and Distribution and will take on a greater national and international sales focus, working closely with major trade distribution partners.

Victory, previously General Manager SeaLink Queensland and Northern Territory, has been appointed General Manager Business Growth and Innovation. Victory will work closely with SeaLink’s regional General Managers around the country to identify new business growth opportunities whilst also focusing on key government and indigenous partnerships.

Roland Svensson appointed Group General Manager, Alba Hospitality and General Manager, Alba Wellness Resort Hue in Vietnam

Roland Svensson has been named Group General Manager Alba Hospitality and General Manager of Alba Wellness Resort Hue in Vietnam.

Svensson has a wealth of hotel and resort experience, having worked in a number of international properties, commencing with senior Food & Beverage appointments in Dubai, Macau, Bangkok, Penang, Hong Kong and Queensland, where he was Director of Food & Beverage at Radisson Royal Palms Port Douglas for the opening in 1989 through to 1990.

He went on to be General Manager with Myanmar’s Novotel Mandalay and Thailand’s Royal Garden Resort Hua Hin and The Montien Hotel Bangkok, prior to moving to Saudi Arabia’s Le Jeddah Meridien as General Manager.

“I am thrilled to join Alba Hospitality and Alba Wellness Resort and excited to continue to work in a beautiful country like Vietnam – a place with tremendous potential in tourism,” Svensson said.

Giselle Radulovic appointed as new Country Manager Australia for Hawaii Tourism Oceania

The Walshe Group has welcomed Giselle Radulovic as the new Country Manager Australia for Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania (HTO).

Radulovic will be responsible for driving the strategic performance of Hawai‘i within the Australian market, and brings to HTO more than 20 years of experience across the tourism and business events sectors.

Her experience spans across a range of strategic marketing and product development positions in both Australia and the United States, and she has also managed a range of projects for major Australia tourism precincts such as The Rocks, Darling Harbour and the Sydney Opera House.

Most recently, Radulovic worked as the Director of Marketing and Communications at Canberra Convention Bureau promoting Canberra for international and national business events.

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji appoints Sales Representative in New Zealand

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji is delighted to announce the appointment of Laura Wadsworth from Sunseeker Travel Marketing and Representation as their New Zealand Sales Representative, following the retirement of Anne Radonich.

Wadsworth will continue to build existing relationships with key distribution partners in the New Zealand market and establish new ones. Wadsworth has a certificate in Travel and Tourism from Crown Institute and a Certificate in Advertising and Marketing from AUT and brings to the role over 20 years of experience in the travel industry.

First starting her career selling travel for the Flight Centre Group, Wadsworth then moved into the wholesale environment becoming Product Manager for a niche South Pacific Wholesale company – Travel Arrangements Ltd. Wadsworth was then employed with two major Cook Island properties as their Marketing Manager, before establishing Sunseeker Travel Marketing and Representation Ltd in 2002.

Wadsworth will be looking after Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s three, four, seven and eleven-night accommodated cruises, day tours and dinner cruises.

Ricardo Mendes has been named General Manager Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami

In his role as General Manager, Mendes will oversee all day-to-day hotel operations in addition to the training of all staff and management of overall hotel budget and revenue. Prior to this appointment, Mendes served as General Manager of the first Hyatt Centric hotel in South Florida: Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami. With more than 18 years of hospitality experience, Mendes has also served as hotel manager of Mondrian South Beach and director of food and beverage for Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa on Miami Beach.

“We are focused on assembling an experienced, multilingual team of local hospitality professionals who will lead the Hyatt Centric brand’s expansion into Miami’s bustling urban core, an area thriving as a global business and lifestyle destination,” said Mendes.

“As we prepare to open, the hotel team will be ready to make guests feel welcome, share tips on how to explore Miami like a local and help curate a memorable experience whether they’re traveling for business or leisure.”

Alex Alvarez to lead all sales and marketing efforts as Director of Sales & Marketing for Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami

In his role as Director of Sales & Marketing, Alvarez will lead the hotel’s sales and marketing teams, while working closely with the General Manager to develop and execute sales strategies for groups and events to maximize hotel revenues.

He brings more than 17 years of hospitality experience to this position. Previously, Alvarez worked for nine years for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and several hospitality companies leading sales strategy, including Hilton Miami Downtown, Hyatt Regency Miami and White Lodging Services.

The 208-room Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami lifestyle hotel will be the latest addition to Hyatt Centric brand’s portfolio of 20 hotels worldwide, in destinations like Japan, Spain, Hawaii, New York and California.

Introducing G’s new Director of Marketing

G Adventures has a wonderful new Director of Marketing, Louise Laing! Laing has just come back from an invigorating two weeks of induction in our ‘Base Camp’ office in Toronto.

She will start work next week.

SeaLink South Australia appoints Business Development Executive

SeaLink South Australia has appointed Sally Zollner as Business Development Executive for its Adelaide Sightseeing and Youth and Adventure brands.

Zollner will work closely with clients to promote Adelaide Sightseeing and Kangaroo Island Adventure Tours to South Australian hotels, hostels, information centres the youth market and key agents. Employed with the SeaLink Travel Group as a Sales Consultant for over eight years, Zollner has worked in various areas of the reservations department and will bring to her new role an enormous amount of experience across SeaLink’s full product range.

Zollner has been enjoying her new role and promoting her much-loved South Australia.

“I have a passion for South Australian and all the amazing places and activities it has to offer, and one of my favourite things about my new role is I’m able to promote what I enjoy and love,” she said.

Lord Howe Island appoints Sarah Shields for PR

The Lord Howe Island Tourism Association (LHITA) has appointed travel and tourism specialist Sarah Shields to manage its public relations and media communications.

The LHITA is a member organisation representing some 35 tourism businesses including accommodation, restaurants and tour operators on World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island.

Independent PR Shields was successful in her pitch for the role following a competitive tender held late last year.

Shields’ complementary travel and tourism clients include the Baillie Lodges group, Luxury Lodges of Australia, Peter Sommer Travels and Indigenous tourism specialists Cooee Travel and Lirrwi Tourism. Shields also coordinates media famils for the South Australian Tourism Commission and recently joined Tourism Australia’s Influencer and Media Hosting Program for 2018/19.