United Vacation agents competed in
the Great Las Vegas Giveaway.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s Leisure Sales Team and MGM Grand Hotel & Casino hosted the six top-selling travel agents of United Vacations for the popular travel agent promotion, The Great Las Vegas Giveaway. The agents competed for valuable prizes in a Las Vegas-themed “Jeopardy” game. From left to right: Todd Lokken, United Vacations; Chris Hoag, MGM Mirage Corporation; Carol Spina, Best Travel Tours, Inc.; Patricia Frederick, Makin Tracks Travel; Marlene Sanasack, CWT Travel Quest; Debbie Galo, The Total Traveler; Marlene Short, Master Travel; Karen Talmadge, Dalianes World Wide Travel; Art Jimenez, LVCVA.
HAL NAMES ALLEN VP SALES
Holland America Line has named Paul T. Allen to the position of vice president, sales. Allen will be in charge of Holland America Line’s annual sales strategies and direct the line’s award-winning sales organization and programs.
“Paul’s demonstrated success in overseeing the marketing and sales of our Alaska programs will be a great asset in his new position,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs.
Most recently, Allen served as vice president, Alaska marketing and sales, where he had overall marketing responsibility for the promotion of the company’s cruise and cruise-tour program to Alaska and the Yukon. Allen has worked more than 20 years at Holland America Line in various departments ranging from communications and marketing destinations to planning and finance.
COLLETTE VACATIONS’ NEW FOUNDATION
In honor of their 90th anniversary in 2008, Collette Vacations has launched the Collette Foundation, a five-year, $2 million employee-run project focused on improving the lives of children worldwide. The idea for the foundation came about after a visit to a Peruvian school by Collette Vacations’ CEO and president, Dan Sullivan Jr.
The Foundation will reach out to 20 communities worldwide and has already scheduled 12 projects for 2007. This year, targeted areas include South Africa, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. West Coast and South, Italy, Ireland, Peru, Mexico, China and Costa Rica. Within the next five years, the foundation hopes to launch an additional 12 projects.
NEW GM FOR CONTINENTAL AIRLINES VACATIONS
Bruce Wood, a veteran of more than 35 years in the aviation and tour operator industries, has been named the new general manager of Continental Airlines Vacations. The official tour operator arm of Continental Airlines, Continental Airlines Vacations is operated by Certified Vacations Group, Inc.
In his new role as Continental Airlines Vacations’ top executive, Wood’s duties include overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations, including product development, marketing and sales functions.
Immediately prior to joining the Continental Airlines Vacations/Certified Vacations Group team, Wood served as vice president of product development and planning for American Airlines Vacations, the official tour operator arm of American Airlines.
