This is one of the biggest weeks yet for promotions in the travel industry! It’s also one of the biggest weeks ever for ordering pizza after forgetting to defrost the chicken. Or is that just us?

New Victoria BDM at DriveAway

DriveAway is pleased to announce the most recent appointment of Fraser Tong as their new Business Development Manager for Victoria.

Tong comes to DriveAway with a wealth of experience in the both the tourism and hospitality industry, including with roles for Tourism Holding Limited and most recently Parker Travel Collection. Tong is, “thrilled to be starting the next chapter of his career with DriveAway” and looking forward to working closely with the company’s travel agent partners.

DriveAway asked Tong what his favourite holiday memory was and he said, “I remember actually driving the length and width of the South Island of New Zealand in a Britz Campervan with my University friends – one of the best times of my life”.

Aurora Expeditions expands Sydney team as they prepare to launch their newest ship, the Greg Mortimer

Aurora Expeditions, Australia’s leading expedition cruising company, continues to expand its Sydney-based team as it prepares to launch the new state-of-the-art vessel Greg Mortimer in October 2019.

Following a number of recent appointments, the company has today announced the appointment of Jackie Gordon to the role of Business Development Manager. In her new role, Gordon will be responsible for developing and actively managing relationships with all trade distribution partners throughout Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

Gordon joins the team with over 15 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. Most recently she spent four years with Insider Journeys as a wholesaler specialising in small group touring throughout Asia. Prior to that, Gordon held the Sales Manager role at Coral Expedition Cruises for almost eight years.

Gordon’s appointment follows that of Dianna Schinella to the role of Industry Sales and Marketing Manager, and Alex Fayan as Business Development Manager.

Entire Travel Group expands national sales team with key appointments in Victoria and Queensland

The rapidly-expanding Entire Travel Group is bolstering its national presence with the appointment of two of the travel industry’s most respected sales representatives to newly-created roles in Victoria and Queensland. The company – which this month officially merged with CIT Holidays and launched a new dedicated program for the Maldives – has named Kelly McDonald as its new Sales Manager Queensland and Northern New South Wales, while Craig Hunt is now Sales Manager Victoria and Tasmania.

Brisbane-based McDonald joins Entire Travel Group from Cox and Kings Australia, where she spent 11 years representing brands such as Tempo Holidays, Bentours International, Explore Worldwide and Hurtigruten. Prior to joining the wholesale sector she spent almost a decade as a front-line travel agent.

Hunt has more than 23 years’ experience working with some of the country’s leading wholesale travel companies. His Melbourne-based appointment represents a home coming as he previously spent five years representing CIT Holidays in Victoria and Tasmania.

Along with Entire Travel Group’s Sales Manager NSW Rita Mardirossian and Sales Manager NSW/ACT Sandrine Le Gaillard, McDonald and Hunt are now responsible for growing sales and brand awareness for Entire Travel Group’s nine specialist wholesale programs, which cover major destinations in Europe, North America and the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Ignite Travel Group appoints Michael Middleton to lead cruise division

The trailblazers of travel, Ignite Travel Group (ITG) has today announced the appointment of Michael Middleton into the newly created role of General Manager of Cruise, effectively immediately.

Bringing a wealth of knowledge to his new position, Middleton joins the innovative travel group after most recently spending eight years building up and running Western Australia’s largest Cruise company Bitcon Travel. An impressive career spanning nearly 28 years, Middleton’s industry experience has primarily focused in cruise specialist environments seeing him run his own travel agency in New Zealand and hold management roles at leading Cruise agencies throughout the United Kingdom.

Middleton said he is delighted to be joining the leading innovators of travel at such a pivotal time for the business.

“I am thrilled to be joining a great team who are not only passionate about the cruising industry but dedicated in their roles to secure innovative products lines with huge opportunity for travel partners and suppliers, delivering exclusive benefits to customers across Australia. Ignite are rapidly growing to become one of Australia’s top cruise agents and it’s a fantastic time to be coming onboard. They have ambitious plans for the future and I am looking forward to contributing as an integral member in the next stages of their journey.”

Alexis Hvalgaard appointed as Hotel Manager, Fraser Suites Perth

Frasers Hospitality has recently announced Alexis Hvalgaard as hotel manager to Frasers Suites Perth, the city’s leading five-star apartment hotel. Alexis most recently was Operations Manager at the property, where she was responsible for the daily operations and financial performance of front office, housekeeping and F&B.

Her 15+ year hotel experience has seen her hold a number of senior positions in operations, front office and general management at Mercure, Ibis and Quest properties across WA and NSW.

Alexis said: “I am delighted to take on the challenge of Hotel Manager at such a well-established and much-loved property like Fraser Suites Perth.”

“Our offering of five-star serviced residences in this market is very distinctive and an offering truly embraced by our many repeat guests. They enjoy a luxurious sense of space as well as the hotel’s facilities. I look forward to further growing the brand with the team.”

Wildlife Safari appoints VIC / TAS sales executive

Wildlife Safari the luxury tour operator to Africa, Indian Ocean and India announces the appointment of experienced industry professional Jillian Van to the sales team.

As sales executive, Van will be responsible for maintaining and developing industry relationships throughout Victoria & Tasmania.

AVPartners promotes Mat Brooke as Technical Director at Crown Perth

Leading audiovisual company AVPartners has once again demonstrated their commitment to promoting from within by appointing Mat Brooke as Technical Director at Crown Perth.

Previously a Senior Technician at the popular Perth venue, the promotion will see Brooke continue to use his technical knowledge and problem-solving skills to create event concepts which exceed client expectations.

Brooke commenced his career with AVPartners as a Trainee Technician in April 2012, and in six short years has progressed to a leadership position.

Regarding his promotion, Brooke said, “I had no idea six years ago that I would have been able to progress so much within one company. AVPartners is a supportive network of passionate audiovisual people, and I’m ecstatic to be able to continue to grow and advance with them.”

Ovolo Hotels appoints Raoul Gundelach as Brand Director

Award-winning, design-led hotel collection Ovolo Hotels has appointed Raoul Gundelach as Brand Director based in Hong Kong, charged with managing brand development in Australia, Hong Kong and beyond, in a significant growth and expansion phase for the business.

Ovolo Group is also expanding its Mojo Nomad concept with the launching Mojo Nomad Central Hong Kong in October and more projects in the pipeline. Mojo Nomad turns the traditional hotel model completely on its head by going beyond traditional hospitality concepts and blurring the boundaries offering a mix of designer rooms from private to accommodation options for families, groups and friends, and social facilities with a communal sense that appeal to both locals and travellers – think micro-hotel, shared accommodation and co-working all-in-one.

Gundelach has spent the past nine years in advertising, working on global brands including Hyundai, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Fujitsu General, and Sanofi, Raoul returns to the hospitality and hotel industry where his career started, having worked for number of hotels in Brisbane Australia.

“For me, the opportunity to join Ovolo Hotels, working on multiple brands across a period of major growth for the company is too good to be true,” Gundelach said. “I’ve already experienced first-hand the passion founder Girish Jhunjhnuwala has to disrupt and give guests a truly unique experience, and there’s no doubt he and the leadership team have a really strong vision of what we can achieve,” he said.

Trafalgar appoints new Head of Sales

Award winning guided holiday operator Trafalgar are bolstering its team with the appointment of new Head of Sales, Sally Sylvester.

Sylvester joins Trafalgar after 20 years with the Flight Centre Travel Group, most recently as General Manager for Travel Associates. Her previous roles with FCTG included eight years as state leader (NSW/ACT) as well as area leader for NSW for seven years.

Sylvester will commence her new role with Trafalgar next week.