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From left to right: Monica Fawcett, Martin’s Travel & Tours, Inc.; Sheila Good, Travel Syndicate; Heidi Denecke, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; Shirley Ambers, Travel Syndicate; Heather Lawrence, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; Susan Tanzman, Martin’s Travel & Tours, Inc. |
Last month, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company honored the top-producing travel agents in the West during the Travel Industry Showcase and Awards Evening held in Marina Del Rey, Calif. Nearly 300 top-producing travel agents and owners were in attendance, and a handful of agencies and individual agents took home awards for their efforts. The award for Agency of the Year went to New Act Travel, while Alexandre Chemla from Altour took home the Highest Revenue Award for 2008 and 2009.
At the end of the awards ceremony, all agents in attendance were given a complimentary stay at Arizona’s The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.
Zar Makes His Impression
Travel Impressions has appointed industry veteran Paul Zar to vice president of the Caribbean destination team, managed brands and airline/car relations. Zar comes to Travel Impressions with more than 25 years of travel and tourism experience and most recently served as senior vice president, business development and airline relations at LibGo Travel Inc.
“We are absolutely delighted to have someone of Paul’s caliber and experience joining the Travel Impressions team,” said Steve Gorga, president and CEO. “His expertise is especially important as we emerge from this challenging economy with some incredible opportunities to grow our business.”
The key responsibilities of Zar’s new position will include planning, directing and managing all functions associated with the operation of the Caribbean destination team; developing long-term corporate product strategies; managing major relationships for air and car programs on behalf of Travel Impressions; and managing all activities associated with securing managed brands.
Zar will report to John Hanratty, senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
Achievement of a Lifetime
The chairman of one of India’s most renowned hotel groups was honored last week for his contribution to the travel and tourism industry. Capt. C.P. Krishnan Nair, chairman of The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the CNBC Travel Awards 2009, an annual event hosted by CNBC AWAAZ to honor the best travel destinations and services in the tourism industry.
“India is fast emerging as a major travel and tourism player and incredible India is the driving force” said Nair. “CNBC is giving due importance to the role that tourism plays in the economy, and the Indian hospitality industry is experiencing a boom.”
