Attendees Flock to Altour Show
Altour’s first Leisure Travel Show at the Parker Palm Springs in
Palm Springs, Calif., took place on Jan. 15. In attendance were
Altour’s executive vice president and COO Terry McCabe and more
than 25 West Coast agents, along with about 500 attendees.
During the show, attendees were able to research and book
travel, and Altour travel experts were able to showcase their
services to the greater Palm Springs area.
Main Moves to Pan Pacific
Lori C. Main has been appointed general manager at the new Pan
Pacific Seattle, scheduled to open in October.
Currently, Main is the general manager of Seattle’s Roosevelt
Hotel. She is a native Northwesterner and also has 20 years of
experience managing hotels and other business ventures.
Prior to the Roosevelt Hotel, Main was COO at the Armco Group
and held several hospitality management positions with WestCoast
Hospitality Corporation.
Rubin Moves to Africa Travel
Glendale, Calif.-based Africa Travel Inc. has hired Barbara Rubin
as their new western region business development manager.
Rubin has more than 20 years experience in the industry,
specializing in the sale of luxury travel, adventure and
eco-tourism products.
In her new position, she will be responsible for the Southern
California region as well as Arizona. She will also assist in
Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.
Hacienda Del Mar Gets New Director
The Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Resort and Spa in San Jose Del Cabo,
Mexico, has hired Mourad Essafi as the property’s new director of
sales and marketing.
Essafi has 17 years of experience working in almost every aspect
of the hospitality industry, including sales, destination
representation, public relations and food and beverage. He also has
several years experience working in Mexico, most recently as the
director of sales and marketing at El Careyes Beach Resort and El
Tamarindo Golf Resort in Costalegre, Mexico.
Naka Is New FVB Coordinator
The Fiji Visitors Bureau, North America (FVB) has appointed Jese
Naka as the new regional coordinator Americas for the Fiji Matai
Specialists Program. In his new position, Naka will implement
training, oversee annual awards, organize Fiji Super Fam trips and
develop marketing materials for this year’s Matai Specialists
program.
Picture-Perfect Provence
French tourism bureaus, hoteliers and tour operators joined forces
Feb. 2 at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel to meet with travel
agents and celebrate “the year of Cezanne in Provence.” Larry
McGunness played master of ceremonies as agents were educated on
new specialty tours that focus on great painters like Cezanne and
Van Gogh. These tours and hotels allow visitors the opportunity to
experience Marseille, L’Estaque, Martiques, Arles, Saint Remy de
Provence, Toulon, Saint Trapez and Digne-les-Baines, France,
through the artist’s eyes.
Starwood Announces New Promotions
Starwood Hotels and Resorts has announced the promotion of Cheryl
Williams to regional vice president of sales and marketing, Hawaii
and French Polynesia. She replaces Karen Hughes who has been
promoted to vice president, global leisure sales and distribution
for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.
Michael Troy will replace Williams in her previous role as area
director of sales and marketing, Hawaii and French Polynesia.
In her new position, Williams will develop and manage sales and
marketing strategies and oversee sales, advertising, public
relations and communications, electronic commerce and partner
marketing for the region.
Troy will provide strategic direction for the overall leisure and
group sales efforts, and direct the regional sales teams in all
areas of customer sales strategy and relationships in his new
position.
