Industry People 5-26-2006

President George W. Bush and first lady, Laura Bush, presented Robin Tauck and Arthur Tauck Jr., of Norwalk, Conn.-based Tauck World Discovery, with the Preserve America Presidential Award for Tauck’s guest volunteer program at Yellowstone National Park. The award was presented during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.

The Presidential Award is the nation’s highest honor for historical preservation, and it recognizes “exemplary accomplishments in the sustainable use and preservation of cultural or natural heritage assets.”

“We are thrilled and humbled to be honored with the Presidential Award,” said Robin Tauck, president and CEO of Tauck World Discovery. “We’re committed to supporting the parks through our guest volunteer program, through employee volunteer events and through grants.”

Founded in 1925 as Tauck Tours, Tauck World Discovery has won more than 50 awards over the years, including being named as “World’s Best Safari Outfitter & Tour Operator” three times by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.

-Irma Widjojo

A New CEO at Club Med

On May 11, Cedric Gobilliard took over the responsibility of Club Med North America as president and CEO, North America, replacing John Vanderslice.

After six years at the head of the Americas Business Unit, Vanderslice left Club Med on May 12.

During his tenure, he was responsible for bringing many changes to Club Med North America, notably the creation of the Total All-Inclusive offering.

Previously, Gobilliard was vice president of sales and marketing, Europe (except France), and has successfully led the implementation of the company’s strategy in Europe.

Before joining Club Med, he was a part of Disney’s sales and marketing department.

Mason GM at Beaver Creek

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa named Scott Mason as general manager of the 190-room resort. Mason arrived at the resort in early May and has taken charge of all resort operations. He also will oversee the property’s renovation and the expansion of its spa.

Mason’s Hyatt career began in 1998 at the 1,300-plus room Grand Hyatt New York as executive housekeeper.

Mason is a Colorado native and a graduate of Metropolitan State College of Denver with a degree in Hospitality Meeting and Travel Administration. He also went on to complete the Executive Certification Program at Cornell University in Strategic Marketing.

Geo Genius

Karan Takhar from North Attleboro, Mass., topped more than 50,000 of his peers to take the national title in the fourth annual AAA Travel High School Challenge. Takhar took home a $25,000 scholarship after winning the individual, single-elimination competition. He was also a member of the second-place team winners. The challenge, developed to build high school students’ travel knowledge and geographic literacy, also creates awareness of career opportunities in the travel and tourism industry. Questions for the challenge were formed by TravelAge West’s own geo-genius, Marc Mancini.

Upchurch Speaks at Luxury Marketing Conference

The CEO of luxury travel network Virtuoso, Matthew Upchurch, spoke at the Luxury Marketing Conference collaborated by Vanity Fair and Luxury Briefing at The Four Seasons Hotel, New York, on May 4. The event was the first of its kind in the U.S., and included a program of speakers, as well as an opportunity to meet other principal figures from leading luxury brands in the travel industry.

Upchurch shared his perspectives on the market, noting that baby boomers continue to drive the luxury segment of the travel market, before an audience of 125 prominent executives.