Last updated: 2:05 PM ET, Wed April 17, 2024
WHY IT RATES: Avanti Destinations has restructured its sales force to provide support for its travel advisor partners on the executive, regional and individual levels. —Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Managing Editor
Avanti Destinations announced the appointment of three industry veterans to sales positions: Michel Madjerich, formerly Southeast Regional Sales Director, is now Director of National Accounts; Christina De Falco is Northeast Regional Sales Director; and Paula Ruidiaz is Southeast Regional Sales Director. All three report to Gina Bang, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Avanti.
“We have restructured the sales force to provide support for our travel advisor partners on the executive, national, regional, and individual advisor level,” said Bang. “As National Accounts Director, Michel works with agency owners to develop strategies on how to grow their business with Avanti. We have reduced territory sizes, in order to give our regional sales directors more face-to-face time with their accounts.”
Michel Madjerich
Based in the Tampa area, Madjerich also works alongside Avanti’s Senior Vice President of Industry Relations, John Hanratty, to strengthen Avanti’s partnerships with consortia and host agency partners.
Madjerich has more than 20 years in business development representing leading tour and cruise operators to advisors in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic before joining Avanti as Southeast Regional Sales Director in 2022. Previous positions were with Rosenbluth Vacations, MLT (Delta and United) Vacations, Celebrity & Azamara Cruises, among others.
Christina De Falco
Based in Glocester, Rhode Island, Christina De Falco calls on accounts in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
A travel industry veteran for more than 30 years, De Falco has held sales, marketing, training, and management positions at Star Clippers, Insight Vacations, Brian Moor/Europe Express, Superclubs Resorts, and Cruise Brothers. “My years as a travel advisor are the ones I remember most fondly because I saw so much of the world on fam trips,” she said.
Paula Ruidiaz
Based in Miami, Chilean-born Paula Ruidiaz calls on advisors in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
She has 20 years in the travel business, working first for COCHA Travel, Chile’s largest inbound tourism company as sales and marketing manager after initially starting her career developing markets for South American and European wines and spirits. Ruidiaz is a returning Avanti Destinations employee, having previously handled sales for the entire eastern U.S., then serving as Southeastern Regional Sales Director for five years. Advisors can reach Madjerich at [email protected] , De Falco at [email protected] and Ruidiaz at [email protected] .
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, wholesale tour operator Avanti Destinations creates and sells custom-crafted independent (FIT) and group travel 365 days a year in Europe, Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, the South Pacific, and Central and South America exclusively through travel advisors. For more information, log onto the travel advisor portal https://book.avantidestinations.com or call 1-800-422-5053 to speak with an expert travel specialist.
SOURCE: Avanti Destinations press release.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
