Longtime Travel Industry Leader Patrick Fragale to Serve as New President of Protravel International
Protravel International has formally announced the designation of respected travel industry executive and leader Patrick Fragale as its new President. CEO Barry Liben announced the news that a lengthy, thorough executive search to replace founder Priscilla Alexander resulted in Fragale's selection by the company's entire leadership team. Fragale will join Protravel on August 4; he will report directly to Liben.
With more than 30 years of leadership within the travel industry - most recently as the president and chief operating officer for Direct Travel, a position he held from 1999 through last year - Fragale brings a wealth of experience and a high level of knowledge. Prior to Direct Travel, Fragale held various positions in the hospitality industry from general manager to vice president of operations for a collection of premium hotels and specialty restaurants including the Marriott, Renaissance and Sheraton brands. Additionally, he has served as a member of various advisory boards and panels within the travel industry, including Continental Airlines (now United Airlines), Delta Air Lines and Travelport.
Hurtigruten Announces Two Strategic Staff PromotionsFurther Enhancing its Focus on the North American Market
Hurtigruten's managing director for North America, Gordon Dirker, has announced the promotions of Rolf Logan to director of national and key Accounts and Deane Motis to national director of sales. Both Logan and Motis have numerous years of experience in both the travel industry and with Hurtigruten.
Logan began his travel career more than 25 years ago in the travel agency sector, establishing long-term relationships that have served him well while directing sales forces for agencies, major cruise lines, river and expedition cruises and tour operators. The past 12 years have been within the small-ship cruise segment where Rolf has focused primarily on new business development on nearly every continent.
Motis brings more than 30 years of travel sales, marketing and operations experience as he moves into his new position as national director of sales. Motis has held senior management positions at Holland America, Cruise West, Princess Tours and others. His particular area of expertise is in the development, integration and implementation of combined sales and marketing programs. Before joining Hurtigruten, Motis served as Director of Sales for Global Voyages Group, a cruise marketing and sales company that specializes in offering full service solutions to its clients.
Club Med Announces New Account Director For Meetings, Incentives And Corporate Events
Club Med is proud to announce Kyoko Robbins as the new account director for meeting, incentive, and corporate event markets. Robbins will manage relationships with corporations, associations, meeting planners and incentive houses for the western half of the United States for Club Med properties worldwide. Joining the Club Med Business sales team with over 10 years of hospitality experience, she has a rich background in selling resorts and destinations on a global scale. Kyoko previously worked with Bacara Resort & Spa, The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and most recently Riviera Palm Springs. Kyoko has proven herself as an accomplished industry member with a marathon of accolades, including multiple Manager of the Quarter awards and an honorable nomination for Sales Person of the Month. Her skills at working closely with meeting and incentive planning organizations bring a diverse portfolio of new business opportunities to Club Med.
'Dynamic Duo' Reunites: Bill Miller Joins John Noel At Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) has significantly expanded its national sales presence by adding Bill Miller as executive vice president - sales. In joining BHTP, Miller is reuniting with BHTP President John Noel. Noel hired Miller as a regional sales VP in 2006, when Noel was CEO of Travel Guard International. In three-plus years with the company, Miller restructured the sales team, introduced a customer-relationship-management platform, and closed nine deals worth in excess of $1 million each.
Prior to coming to BHTP, Miller was the senior global-supplier-management director at Paris-based Carlson Wagonlit Travel. At CWT, Miller oversaw a multi-million-dollar transactional revenue stream that encompassed three global distribution systems. Miller also has experience with FarePortal, Travelocity, and American Airlines.
USTOA Names Elizabeth George Membership and Programming Director
United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) President and CEO Terry Dale has announced the appointment of Elizabeth George, CMM, to the newly created position of membership and programming director, leading the association's membership development, education, and communication activities.
A designated senior planner with certification in meeting management, George most recently served as manager of northeast regional sales at New Orleans Conventions & Visitors Bureau. She opened the northeast regional office to help re-brand New Orleans as part of its recovery to rebuild its post-Katrina image. Under her leadership, the northeast regional office achieved double digit growth in leads, exceeding 20 percent lead goal production before her departure in 2013.
St. Regis Bora Bora Announces New Sales Manager - Europe
St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is pleased to announce Karine Vanhee as the new sales manager -europe, effective September. Vanhee will be responsible for promoting the Resort throughout the European market. In 2011, Vanhee joined the St. Regis Bora Bora as the sales coordinator and wedding planner. Due to her success with weddings and events, Karine became the director of event management for the resort in 2013. In this role, she launched the weddings and romance department, oversaw the opening of the Resort's on-site Bridal Boutique, where dresses are available for rent or purchase, and has coordinated and orchestrated more than 300 weddings on property to date.
Finardi Appointed General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Milan
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Luca Finardi as general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Milan which is scheduled to open in 2015. Finardi has a wealth of experience in the Italian luxury hospitality industry with prior appointments as General Manager of the Royaldemeure Spa Hotels, Hotel Savoy and Villa San Michele in Florence. He joins Mandarin Oriental from Orient Express Hotels where he held the position of General Manager and Area Manager, Sicily at Grand Hotel Timeo & Villa Sant'Andrea in Taormina.
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa Welcomes New Executive Leadership
The Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Chastain as general manager and Chris Bielski as director of sales & marketing.
Having achieved top financial results and held various executive positions, Karen Chastain brings more than two decades of substantial leadership experience within the Marriott brand. Chastain assumes her new role by way of the Scottsdale Marriott and the Scottsdale Marriott Old Town Suites where she served as multi-property general manager. Prior to that, she worked with the Marriott Western Regional Team as the regional director of finance and accounting for five years and the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa as the director of room operations and sales manager, achieving top customer scores and financial results.
A resident of South Florida for 15+ years, Chris Bielski is no stranger to the market. Having most recently served in the market sales leader position for South Florida he also held positions as sales leader at the Fort Lauderdale Marina Marriott and area director of sales for Fort Lauderdale and Miami, along with a seven-year stint with Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Bielski also served as the area director of sales & marketing for all Marriott managed hotels in South Florida for three years.
Colliat Appointed Executive Vice President, HotelServices, North & Central America and Caribbean
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, has announced the appointment of Dominique Colliat to executive vice president, HotelServices, North & Central America and Caribbean. A 27-year veteran of Accor, Colliat will be responsible for targeted business and development strategies to increase profitability and expand hotel share throughout the region.
A graduate of Lyon University with majors in marketing and management and a minor in French literature, Colliat began her career at Accor managing a succession of hotels in the Caribbean, France and Great Britain. In 1998, she departed the company after 20 years to join Club Méditerranée (Club Med) as director for the Bahamas and Caribbean. Three years later, she was appointed vice president operations of Club Med North America, Mexico and the Caribbean to help reposition the resort collection in the upscale travel market.
Hannigan Appointed General Manager Of Hotel Palomar Los Angeles-Westwood And Regional Director Of Operations
Twenty-year hospitality veteran Robert Hannigan has added regional director of operations to the myriad titles he has held and departments he has mastered throughout his tenure. Hannigan is the newly appointed general manager of The Hotel Palomar Los Angeles-Westwood, a Kimpton Hotel, as well as operations director of Kimpton's The Hotel Wilshire in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara's Canary Hotel and Goleta's Hotel Goleta. Hannigan's experience in every aspect of hotel and restaurant operations makes him the perfect person for these responsibilities.
Hannigan started his career with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in 2007 and has traversed the country since then. He began in Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, VA, first as assistant general manager directing overall hotel operations of front office, housekeeping, room service and security departments, then as general manager of his first hotel, Kimpton's Morrison House, named to Conde Nast's "Gold List of Best Hotels in the World" five years running. There he was responsible for overall operations of the hotel. He then headed west in 2012 as general manager of the Hotel Solamar in San Diego and recently landed in Los Angeles.
Nissenbaum Appointed New Managing Director of the Waldorf Astoria New York and Towers of the Waldorf Astoria
The Waldorf Astoria New York announces the appointment of Ronen Nissenbaum as managing director of the Waldorf Astoria and Towers of the Waldorf Astoria New York. Nissenbaum, an accomplished hospitality executive with more than 30 years of international experience, will direct and oversee the day-to-day operations of the landmark hotel.
Most recently, Nissenbaum served as the president and CEO of The Plaza Group including overseeing the Plaza Hotel in New York as well as development of the Plaza hotel brand. Prior to this role, he held extensive leadership positions at properties around the globe including senior executive vice president of operations at Marina Bay Sands Singapore where he opened and managed the largest integrated resort in Southeast Asia. Nissenbaum's other global hospitality positions include senior management roles with Forte hotels in London and Euro Disney in Paris.
Riviera Palm Springs Welcomes John Roberts as Executive Chef
Riviera Palm Springs announced the appointment of John Roberts as executive chef of the 398-room resort. Chef Roberts, who brings over 20 years of experience to the role, will oversee culinary operations of the resort's dining outlets, including the popular Circa 59 restaurant, as well as catering for banquets and group events. In conjunction with his dedicated staff, Chef Roberts is also developing innovative menus for Riviera Palm Spring's Sidebar Lounge, Starlite Lounge, Bikini Bar, Chiki Bar and in-room private dining.
A native of Liverpool, England, Chef Roberts boasts an impressive background working at award-wining restaurants and hotels such The Edgewater and its restaurant Six Seven, as well as Cascadia Restaurant and The Rainier Club in Seattle. Chef Roberts credits his mentoring to Chef Matthew Harris who he worked with at Bidendum Restaurant in London. Throughout his career, Chef Roberts has earned remarkable honors including cooking for United States Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. Roberts graduated from Hughbaird Culinary Institute in 1990, and has worked alongside top chefs including Daniel Boulud and Simon Hopkinson.
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