Patricio Tamariz (left), the executive director of the Fund for the Promotion of Tourism to Ecuador, visited with TravelAge West Editor-in-Chief Ken Shapiro (right) at the U.S. Tour Operator Association’s (USTOA) Annual Conference & Marketplace, held in Cancun, Mexico, Dec. 2-4.
Ecuador played a major role at the event as host of the dinner reception on the second night of the conference. At that dinner, guests received Panama hats (which actually originated in Ecuador) and Andean wraps and were treated to Ecuadorian music, ethnic dances and even a blessing ceremony by an Amazonian shaman.
Tamariz also addressed the crowd emphasizing his country’s leading role in the ecotourism movement and highlighting recent steps to aid the natural habitat of the Galapagos.
Newly elected ATS Board of Directors
(from left): Don Reynolds, Knut Haenschke,
Jan Rudomina, David Parry, Stephen
Barneby, Robert Whitley, Phil Otterson,
David Spinelli.
At the American Tourism Society (ATS) 2007 Annual Meeting and Conference, held in the Lower Silesia region of Poland, the ATS board, at the recommendation of the nominating committee, elected David Parry chairman of the board, and Phil Otterson as president.
The newly elected ATS leaders succeed Alexander W. Harris, CTC, as chairman and Michael Stolowitzky as president. In recognition of Harris’s long service as a founder of the 20-year-old organization and his leadership over the years, the board unanimously voted to elect him as a life member and honorary chairman of the organization. Both Harris and Stolowitzky will continue to serve the organization as members of the board of directors.
Also elected to the expanded board of directors were: H.E. Akel Biltaji of the Kingdom of Jordan; Donna Flora of the American Express Co.; Knut Haenscheke of EH Marketing; Mirko A. Ilich, CTC, of Traveling Times; Helena Novak of General Tours World Traveler; Jan Rudomina of American Travel Abroad; David Spinelli of Vacation.com; and Robert Whitley of USTOA.
Daniels
Nancy Daniels has been promoted to the position of director of public relations for Outrigger Enterprises Group. She was most recently the public relations manager and she will continue to direct the external communications efforts on behalf of the company, including the planning, coordination and execution of media relations, community relations, special promotions and events. In addition, she will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the department.
Daniels has been with Outrigger since 1995, and prior to joining Outrigger, she spent seven years at the former Kahala Hilton Hotel. Her extensive experience in Hawaii’s hospitality industry also includes positions with Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation and Pan American World Airways.
Edwards
The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa has announced the appointment of Michael Edwards to the position of resident manager. Edwards most recently served in Australia as general manager of Peppers Fairmont Resort, Blue Mountains, and before that, as general manager of Peppers Anchorage, Port Stephens.
