The Club Med Travel Agent Advisory Board
(from left to right, beginning at the bottom row):
John Dennis, Jim Killen, Kirsti Frost, Gary
Pollard, Jeff Austin, Damian McCabe, Eric
Maryanov, Susie Casillas, Rich Esman, Tim
Smith, Howard Tanenbaum and Xavier Mufraggi.
Meeting in Mexico Oct. 3-5, top travel agents converged on the Club Med Cancun Yucatan as part of the new Club Med Travel Agent Advisory Board. The agents met to discuss key considerations relating to the resort brand. Topics included new leisure services, atmosphere, demands of upscale travelers, the Club Med Ixtapa Pacific reopening, the Club Med Punta Cana renovations and Club Med spas.
While visiting Club Med Cancun Yucatan, the Advisory Board members stayed in the Jade Villa suites and took advantage of the resort’s amenities and cuisine.
Gomez
Oscar Fitch Gomez was recently appointed to Mexico’s Tourism Board as the new general director. According to the country’s secretary of tourism, Rudolfo Elizondo Torres, the new general director is well-equipped with skill and experience to successfully lead the MTB in promoting Mexico to international visitors.
Originally from Tijuana, Gomez specializes in marketing, advertising, promotion and public relations. He was previously the president of the Commission of Legislative Link of the Business Coordinating Counsel for over 12 years, along with being an associate founder of Fitch and Associates, a lobbying office.
Gomez also has experience serving as the vice president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers, president of the National Chamber of Beer-Makers and as an advisor and member on a number of other committees.
Jimenez
Island local, Mahealani Jimenez, has been appointed senior sales manager for Outrigger’s two beachfront hotels in Oahu, the Outrigger Waikiki and the Outrigger Reef.
A graduate from the island’s Kamehameha Schools, Jimenez comes to Outrigger from Kimpton Hotels in San Francisco, where she has worked for the past 11 years. With Kimpton, Jimenez gained experience in operations, conference services and sales management.
“Mahealani’s strong island roots coupled with more than a decade of experience in the hotel industry make her a valuable addition to our team,” said Roy Cordeiro, director of sales and marketing for Outrigger. “She joins us at a particularly exciting time, with the newly completed phases of the Outrigger Reef coming on line, and innovative new guest programs being introduced at the Outrigger Waikiki.”
Jimenez will oversee FIT and group sales for both properties.
Richer
The National Tour Association (NTA) has hired Steve Richer to augment NTA’s notable government and industry relations work.
Richer, who is retiring as the executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, will serve NTA as a consultant and build on the base established by Congressman Jim Santini, longtime NTA legislative counsel.
