This week’s update is full of promotions and reshuffles, which means it might be time to ask your boss for that promotion before it gets snapped up.
Marriott International rewards lifetime employee
Marriott International has promoted lifetime employee Harry Singh (featured image) to area director of operations for Australia, New Zealand & Pacific (ANZP).
Singh completed two decades with Marriott last year and was appointed general manager of the brand-new AC Hotel Marriott Melbourne Southbank in July, having successfully launched the award-winning Element Melbourne Richmond in 2018.
FCM Consulting appoints Florian Mueller to lead new Aviation Practice
FCM Consulting has named Florian Mueller as its new aviation practice lead.
As the customer and industry-facing voice of the aviation pillar within FCM Consulting, New York-based Mueller will be responsible for devising strategies to help clients reshape and improve their programmes in response to the complexity of air travel in post-pandemic times.
Mueller brings substantial sector expertise to the role having previously worked for the Lufthansa Airline Group, where he held various positions including GM of the Americas for Austrian Airlines. Before joining FCM in 2019, he led US corporate sales for leading global carrier Emirates.
Alongside his consulting responsibilities, Mueller is a member of GBTA’s influential Global Aviation Committee, where he plays an active role in addressing industry developments and providing valued guidance and education to the broader corporate travel community.
FCM appoints Stephanie Robertson as regional GM for WA and SA
Stephanie Robertson, who has been with FCM for over a decade and has more than 15 years of travel industry experience, has been appointed as regional general manager for Western Australia and South Australia – effective from 1 November 2022.
Robertson has exceptional experience across multiple states with FCM and the appointment is testament to the Flight Centre ‘Brightness of Future’ that enables internal employees to progress.
Cathay Pacific reshuffle
Cathay Pacific has announced several personnel changes as it builds back its regional capacity following the pandemic.
The Hong Kong based carrier has announced the appointment of Sandeep Pillay to the position of acting head for south west Pacific. This will be in addition to his existing role of regional head of airports. Pillay has spent more than 20 years in the industry and the last 10 with Cathay Pacific.
Current acting head for south west Pacific, Richard Jones is moving on following his appointment as regional head of marketing & sales for The Americas (Canada and the US). Jones has been with the business for more than 28 years.
In other moves, Tom Kennedy has been appointed as regional head of marketing & sales, south west Pacific. Kennedy is currently head of business development for south west Pacific based in Sydney.
CT Partners taps Elizabeth Rooney as commercial analyst
CT Partners has continued its investment in strengthening the team to benefit member businesses, with the appointment of Elizabeth Rooney as commercial analyst.
Rooney brings high level experience in TMC operations, implementation and commercial contracting. She also possesses extensive knowledge of the changing travel business landscape, having held 2 previous roles with current large CT Partners’ members.
CT Partners CEO Matt Masson said Rooney’s appointment comes at an exciting time given recent additions to the membership base and strong consumer spending heading into peak leisure travel season.
Gate 7’s latest appointments
Travel and tourism marketing agency Gate 7 is well and truly back and firing on all cylinders, with substantial staff and client growth this year including two recent major hires and the return of well-loved clients, along with a new office.
Vanessa Fletcher has returned to Gate 7 and the travel and tourism sector with a newly designed role, joining Gate 7 as head of strategy. Fletcher is welcomed back after a stint at Nano Digital Home Loans, where she was chief marketing officer.
In her Head of Strategy role, Fletcher will work very closely with Gate 7’s two industry expert directors – Tori Goddard (director of PR and content) and Laura Stephenson (director tourism development & events) along with account teams to shape aligned programs of work that add great value to clients.
After two years as general manager for entertainment precinct Club Menangle, Laura Stephenson returns to the sector with Gate 7’s second newly designed role: director tourism development and events.
Pre-pandemic, Stephenson had over 7 years’ of experience in travel and tourism, holding senior marketing manager roles with both American Airlines in Sydney and AirAsia in Malaysia.
Duetto grows APAC presence
Duetto has announced a series of senior appointments in Asia Pacific as it grows its customer base and network in the region.
Jenna Xue has joined the team as regional marketing manager, bringing to the role 13 years of marketing and events experience in the APAC region, including working on integrated B2B marketing campaigns in the travel and hospitality, meetings and exhibitions, and finance industries.
Jeong Pyon has joined Duetto as regional director of hospitality solutions, bringing on board extensive work experience in revenue management, including time with Marriott, Relais and Chateaux, Four Seasons, and IHG in various destinations in Asia, Canada, and the United States.
In addition, Duetto’s chief revenue officer, Chris Crowley, joined the Commercial Advisory Board of HSMAI APAC in April 2022.
Emporium South Bank appoints new GM
Emporium Hotel South Bank has appointed Julie Manega as general manager for its luxury boutique hotel in Brisbane.
With over 15 years of hotel and hospitality industry experience, Manega comes to the role having served as the director of sales and marketing for the Emporium Hotels group where she has worked for the last decade.
Previous experience with Stamford Plaza Hotel Brisbane saw Julie work across operations, food & beverage, concierge, sales and planning, where her most memorable moment was working with the Chinese and European delegations for the G20 Brisbane Summit in 2014.
Commencing as general manager on 1 December 2022, her first task will be to sure up the 2022/23 Summer season with an influx of international and interstate guests who are expected to stay for conference and leisure options with the hotel at near capacity already for key weeks across the coming months.
