Keep tabs on all the latest movements in the industry, find who you need to shmooze at the next networking event and suss out all the latest gossip right here.

Intrepid appoints Issy Limn as key partnerships manager

Intrepid Travel has grown its ANZ partnerships team, with the appointment of the region’s newest key partnerships manager, Issy Limn (pictured above).

With six years of experience in the Aussie travel industry, Limn joins the group with a wealth of knowledge and will be responsible for servicing and growing sales through Intrepid’s key partners.

An enthusiastic traveller passionate about experience-rich, sustainable travel, Limn is excited to join the team and re-connect with trade partners.

“As a purpose-led organisation, I’m delighted to join Intrepid and look forward to creating positive change through the joy of travel,” says Limn.

TravelManagers taps Kylie Wilson for new business partnership manager

The upswing in demand for international travel pushed TravelManagers Australia to appoint a new business partnership manager to join its national partnership office team, and it’s on the lookout for two more.

Kylie Wilson, who will join a post-COVID team of two NSW-based BPMs, has an extensive track record in the travel industry, including two years as a personal travel manager (PTM) with TravelManagers.

Wilson will provide support for PTMs in the south, east and west of Sydney, as well as the Central West, ACT, The Snowy Mountains, Riverina, Southern Highlands, South Coast and Blue Mountains.

“TravelManagers’ post-pandemic recovery is progressing strongly, with significant growth over the past quarter,” Gazal said.

“As our rate of growth continues to escalate, we need to ensure that our PTMs have the necessary resources in place to support them: Kylie is an important part of that equation.”

Silversea Cruises hires Bob Simpson as VP of expedition product development

Silversea Cruises has strengthened its expedition team with the appointment of Bob Simpson as vice president of expedition product development.

Reporting to Conrad Combrink, SVP of expeditions, destination, and itinerary management, Simpson will be responsible for creating and overseeing the implementation of the company’s expedition product delivery strategy.

With an adventurous career spanning more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, Simpson has been involved with expedition cruising since 1998 and has tremendous expertise in developing and operating expeditions in the Polar Regions and other remote destinations.

He joins Silversea Cruises, having served as vice president of expedition cruising at Abercrombie & Kent where he oversaw the company’s expedition product development and operations for nearly 20 years.

“I am delighted to join the team at Silversea Cruises during a time of growth for both the company and the expedition cruise industry,” said Simpson.

“I look forward to working with some of the best in the industry to offer our guests incredible experiences in some of the most far-flung corners of the earth.”

Rail Online appoints Kirsty Blows to new general manager role

Rail Online has appointed one of Oceania’s most experienced rail experts, Kirsty Blows, as its general manager for Australia and New Zealand.

Blows has more than 15 years of experience working in the international rail sector, during which she has held senior management roles with specialist wholesaler Rail Plus and European rail distributor Rail Europe, where she was most recently Customer Care Manager Asia Pacific.

Blows – who is now responsible for all sales, marketing and operational matters in the Australian and New Zealand markets – said she is excited to join Rail Online at the very beginning of its journey.

“The momentum that Rail Online has achieved in such a short time is extraordinary, as is the support it has attracted from travel agents, principals, technology partners and investors,” she said.

“This is a rare opportunity to not only help drive the company’s growth trajectory but to help Rail Online team realise a vision to establish the world’s most valued and frequently used travel app for rail and public transport.”

David Farrar to join Collette

Collette has recruited David Farrar to join the Australian team to further their growth in the market.

Farrar will join as head of sales on 5 September as the company expands both its sales and reservations teams to meet demand.

“Collette’s handling of traveller bookings through the pandemic was truly exceptional with a straightforward refund policy. Their 24-hour cancel for any reason policy also sets the standard,” Farrar said.

“I’m looking forward to joining the team and continuing the Collette success story in Australia.”