Tim Irwin, president and chief executive officer of Pleasant
Holidays, announced that he is retiring at the end of 2007.
“I hope that by telling everyone I’m leaving a full year in
advance, I’ll avoid the two things the travel industry dislikes
most namely, change and surprises,” he said.
Irwin will dedicate the next 12 months to making the leadership
transition as smooth as possible. “I want to allow enough time to
properly select a successor,” he said. “I also want to make sure
that the great relationships our company has established throughout
the industry are maintained.”
Meanwhile, he said, Pleasant will continue to concentrate on
initiatives that move it forward, from technological advancements
to cost-cutting. “In the past year I’ve been particularly proud of
how we’ve strengthened the bench,” Irwin said. “I have a great team
of vice presidents, and I’m confident in their ability to carry on
once I leave.”
Irwin joined Pleasant in 2002 after nearly 35 years with the
Automobile Club of Southern California. Under his direction, the
wholesaler has steadily broadened its product beyond its original
emphasis on Hawaii. “Two years ago we became the number one tour
operator for Tahiti, and we’ve been recognized as a strong player
in Mexico,” Irwin said. “We’ve known that expansion to destinations
beyond Hawaii has been key to our growth.”
Under Irwin’s direction, Pleasant’s reputation has evolved from a
mass market budget company to a source of higher-quality travel
products. At the same time, the company has raised its level of
service to travel agents, consumers and industry partners.
But when asked about his achievements at Pleasant, Irwin is quick
to step out of the limelight. “All of these accomplishments have
been a company effort,” he said. “I just get to take the
credit.
“We’ve built on the foundation that Ed and Lynn Hogan laid down
when they started Pleasant,” Irwin said.” I’m confident the future
president will do the same.”
Don’t expect Irwin to disappear from view when he steps down from
his Pleasant post next December. “The travel industry is a very
important part of my life,” he said. “I see it as a peacemaking
industry, and I want to find ways to remain involved in that aspect
of it.”
