Advantage, RateHawk, Intrepid: all the latest travel trade people moves

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Advantage, RateHawk, Intrepid: all the latest travel trade people moves

Operators

Harry Kemble

9 August 2024

TTG’s weekly digest of the latest appointments, promotions, restructures and farewells from across the travel trade is the industry’s definitive guide to the people moves you need to know about.

TTG_people_moves_7_August_2024_(2).jpg — TTG's people moves digest is published every Wednesday

Over the past week, Intrepid Travel and Exodus Adventure Travels have bolstered their teams with two high-profile appointments, while travel trade parental support group Back in Time for Bed (BITFB) has created its first "board of parents" with several well-known industry professionals taking up positions.

Elsewhere, RateHawk.com has expanded its commercial team and named a new area manager for Scotland.

Meanwhile, the Advantage Travel Partnership has brought in a technology expert to advise its business travel division and Scott Dunn has confirmed a change right at the very top of the company.

So here are the latest major travel trade hires, promotions and job moves over the past week (Wednesday 31 July to Wednesday 7 August).

Have you recently made a new appointment or taken on a new role? Do you have some personnel news for us from your business or organisation? Drop us an email at feedback@ttgmedia.com.

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Intrepid Travel appoints first chief impact officer

Adventure specialist Intrepid Travel has appointed Payton Iheme to a newly created chief impact officer role. Based in Washington DC, Iheme will lead the operator’s global sustainability and impact initiatives, as well as the not-for-profit Intrepid Foundation. She will report into chief executive James Thornton. Intrepid said Iheme’s appointment would strengthen Intrepid’s commitment to impact as part of its 2030 strategy.

Scott Dunn chief to leave brand after more than six years

Scott Dunn chief executive Sonia Davies is to leave the company later this year, ending her six-and-a-half year stint at the operator. The brand said: “We can confirm Sonia Davies will be stepping down from her position as chief executive officer at Scott Dunn later this year. The entire team at Scott Dunn and Flight Centre Travel Group extend their enormous gratitude to Sonia for her leadership and contribution to the business.” During her time at the company, Davies oversaw Flight Centre Travel Group’s acquisition of Scott Dunn last year and spelled out an aim to increase the firm's focus on agents.

RateHawk ups support for agents in Scotland

RateHawk has hired Iain Raeper as its new area manager for Scotland, expanding its commercial team. Raeper has previously held senior positions in sales, business development and partnerships with If Only, EFR Travel Group and ONEE Luxury Travel. In his new role, Raeper will focus on customer acquisition, key account support and building relationships with the trade in Scotland.

Travel trade support group names first 'board of parents'

Travel trade parental support group Back in Time for Bed (BITFB) has named four well-known industry professionals to its first “board of parents” to support the group’s growth ambitions. The board members are Berry Consulting’s Julie Berry, Club Med’s Jemma Bridges, Celebrity Cruises’ Michael Young-Richards and DoSomethingDifferent’s Lucy Paterson. Riviera Travel’s Vicky Billing said her and fellow BITFB co-founder Anna Perrott, Panache Cruises’ partnerships director, had been “overwhelmed” by the industry’s response to the group, which was formed in February 2023.

Operator's new marketing chief targets UK market growth

Exodus Adventure Travels has hired a new marketing director with a view to “further establishing Exodus as the leading brand for responsible adventure travel”. Jason Gray joins the operator from menswear brand Charles Tyrwhitt and will oversee Exodus’s marketing team of 28, as well as setting and delivering the group’s marketing strategy. Gray said Exodus had “an excellent opportunity to grow even further over the next few years, particularly in the UK and North American markets”.

Virtuoso bolsters senior leadership team

Global luxury travel network Virtuoso has expanded its senior leadership team with the appointment of Paul Kearney as senior vice-president for technology. The move comes as Virtuoso realigns its senior leadership for its digital, network and events product divisions. It insisted the changes would “strengthen Virtuoso’s commitment to growth, innovation and serving the diverse needs of global luxury consumers, agency members and preferred partners”.

Advantage recruits tech veteran to take on advisory role

The Advantage Travel Partnership has recruited Simon Ferguson, a former senior vice-president at Modaxo, a global technology provider working within the transportation and aviation sectors. In his new technology advisor role, Ferguson will operate as an independent advisor to Advantage Global Business Travel. He will work closely with Advantage's technology partnership manager Stephen Baxendale. Ferguson will also provide support with horizon scanning and assessing new and upcoming relevant technology enhancements. He spoke at this year's Advantage conference in Cancun.

Platform hopeful new hire will drive expansion

Distribution platform TBO.com hopes to “take the company to the next phase of its evolution” with the appointment of Gerardo Del Rio as international business president. Del Rio brings more than 20 years experience from the hospitality, travel and consulting sectors, his expertise spanning global management, finance and business development. Prior to joining TBO, he worked for Melia Hotels, Hotelbeds and DidaTravel in different capacities. In his new role, Del Rio will focus on strengthening the company’s presence in existing markets while strategically entering news ones.