Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Richard Branson, welcomes Korollan King as the new Vice President of Accounting. King, who is based in Miami, will oversee the brand’s accounting and financial operations. “I am excited to be part of such a progressive and dynamic brand like Virgin Hotels,” remarked King. “For me, it’s about the people, and at Virgin Hotels, it’s beautiful that everyone embraces individuality.” King will be responsible for...
Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Richard Branson, welcomes Jay Wetzel as the new Vice President of Food + Beverage. Wetzel will oversee the overall direction of food & beverage for the company, working on the various restaurant and bar concepts within the hotels while strengthening culinary partnerships across the brand. “What interested me about Virgin Hotels is the innate power of the brand,” remarked Wetzel. “It’s a chance to be a part of a team that...
Steven Small has been appointed brand director of Routes, a Manchester-based company that organises international events for the aviation industry. He will head a business of 40 staff that was established in 1995 to promote air service development. Routes events take part all over the world to bring together airlines, airports, tourism authorities and other stakeholders to plan new flights. Steven joins Routes from Marketing Liverpool where he is currently head of tourism, leading a team...
On his first day in office, Thomas Winkelmann today assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and therefore full responsibility for all activities of the airberlin group. He was appointed by the Board of Directors on 18 December 2016. Thomas Winkelmann on his role as CEO of the airberlin group: “I’ve accepted the job with the aim of successfully completing the repositioning of the company. I’m supported by around 7,500 airberlin staff, who work on board our aircraft...
American Airlines today announced that Art Torno, Senior Vice President – International and Cargo, has informed the Company of his decision to retire in April after 38 years with the airline. “During Art’s long career with American, he has helped establish the airline as a leading international carrier. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in supporting our people and strengthening our presence around the world,” said American’s Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. “American Airlines is a...
Pilots at the SeaTac-based Horizon Air took legal action against their employer on Friday, claiming that executives at the airline broke the law by violating the terms of a labor contract. Horizon’s actions, the pilots say, are not only illegal, but also bad for business. In the face of a nationwide pilot shortage, Horizon is unable to hire and retain enough pilots to fly the company’s fleet of airplanes—a growing problem that is systemically disrupting the travel plans of loyal...
US-based Cathay Pacific Airlines Flight Attendants joined the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA). In a union representation election that concluded today, the National Mediation Board (NMB) announced that 97 percent of the voters elected AFA as their collective bargaining representative. “We are so proud to welcome our sisters and brothers at Cathay Pacific who chose to join with AFA Flight Attendants around the world. Their Cathay Cabin Crew counterparts in Hong Kong, the United...
Air Canada has been recognized by the Finance and Sustainability Initiative (FSI) with the “2017 Award for Best Corporate Sustainability Report – Transportation” in Canada. This annual competition aims to promote excellence in sustainable development reporting among Canadian public companies. Air Canada was selected to receive this honor for its 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, Citizens of the World, updated annually. The airline’s fifth corporate...
Dusit International has rolled out Total Quality Management (TQM) systems across its entire portfolio of properties, making it one of the first Thai-owned hospitality companies to meet the criteria of the International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 9000 series and to commit to continuous improvement in all aspects of its operations. TQM is a comprehensive and structured approach to organisational management that seeks to improve the quality of products and services through...
Viceroy Hotel Group (VHG) has chosen one of its own senior leaders to fill the role of Chief Financial Officer. Announced today, Jeff Smith has been promoted to CFO, effective immediately. Since May 2014, Smith has served as Senior Vice President of Finance at VHG, overseeing all aspects of corporate and hotel accounting and finance activities, while also managing the brand’s risk, compliance and underwriting functions. In his new role, Smith will continue to lead those areas, in addition...
GoJet Airlines is pleased to announce that it has rolled out a number of new initiatives that significantly increase new hire pay for its pilot group. In addition to starting pay that’s among the highest in the industry ($36.50 per flight hour), all new hire pilots are now eligible for a $12,000 signing bonus. New hire pilots with a current CL-65 or ERJ-170 type rating are also eligible for an additional $3,000 training bonus, for a total bonus of $15,000. New hire pilots with the...
Spirit Airlines announced today that Edward M. (Ted) Christie has been appointed to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The move is effective immediately. In this expanded role, Christie will continue running the finance side of the company, but will now take on the added responsibility for the airline’s commercial functions. In addition to his current finance team, Matt Klein, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, will now report to Mr. Christie...
Statement by Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA) on President Trump’s executive order to withdraw from the negotiating process of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). “Formally withdrawing from the TPP is the right move for working people and their families in this country. President Trump has repeatedly stated that his guiding principle will be to put American jobs first. We encourage the Trump Administration to enforce...
Marriott International today will launch its first pop-up hotel innovation lab, creating an interactive model hotel experience in downtown Los Angeles to crowdsource real-time feedback from the public, furthering the company’s futuristic vision. Underscoring Marriott’s goal of continuously innovating the guest experience with an eye on design and technology, the lab will let industry professionals, hotel guests, associates and the general public see, touch, taste and hear some of...
Amadeus today announces that Rajiv Rajian is appointed Executive Vice President of Global Business Travel, effective immediately. With global business travel spend set to reach $1.6 trillion in 2020*, Rajian will be tasked with driving continued growth worldwide across three key pillars of Amadeus’ business travel division: Global Travel Management Companies (TMCs), the Specialty and Networks customers, and corporations. This will consist of leading global TMCs and clients operating in...
In the context of a campaign by employment website Monster.de and film distributor Twentieth Century Fox, Lufthansa is offering women the opportunity to apply for a career day with the company. For the release of HIDDEN FIGURES on Thursday, 2 February 2017, Monster will create a campaign calendar for women and, beginning on 23 January 2017, will draw winners who will have the chance to gain insight into supposedly typically male professions in German companies. Lufthansa is on the agenda for 27...
Church House Westminster has welcomed Rianne Baker to its events team. The University of Hertfordshire graduate has joined the venue as an event coordinator, having previously worked at 99 City Road Conference Centre. Of her appointment, Rianne said: “I’m excited to be joining Church House Westminster when the venue is looking to build on its success. It is an amazing venue in the heart of London and whilst it has a wealth of history it provides the backdrop for a wide variety of events and I...
Boeing was notified today that the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union has petitioned the National Labor Relations Board a second time for a union election at the company’s North Charleston, S.C. facilities. The first petition was filed by the IAM on March 16, 2015, and withdrawn just days before the April 22 scheduled vote. If the NLRB permits it, a vote will be scheduled for eligible teammates to decide whether they will turn over their rights to the IAM or keep a direct...
U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 3.7 percent more workers in November 2016 than in November 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. November was the highest monthly FTE total (416,046) since January 2005 (417,789) and was the 37th consecutive month that U.S. scheduled passenger airline full-time equivalent (FTE) employment exceeded the same month of the previous year. Month-to-month, the number of FTEs was virtually...
On the first day of Fitur in Madrid, the leading international tourism fair in Spain, Alain St.Ange — former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine—presented his official election documents to Taleb Rifai in his bid to become the next Secretary General (SG) of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). “I am honoured to submit my Statement of Intent as Candidate from the Seychelles for the post of Secretary General of the UNWTO”, said St.Ange. “This is a...
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) President & CEO Julie Coker Graham has announced the appointment of Svetlana Yazovskikh to the position of Executive Director of Tourism. Svetlana has worked at the PHLCVB since 2008, most recently as the Senior International Tourism Manager where she oversaw sales and marketing activities for the PHLCVB’s key overseas visitor markets. In her new role, she will lead the tourism team in raising Philadelphia’s profile as a global...
sbe, the Los Angeles-based lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates hospitality venues globally, today announced that Jorge Giannattasio has joined as Chief Operating Officer. In his role, he will work closely with sbe Founder and CEO Sam Nazarian to oversee the daily operations across the sbe platform. “We are thrilled to welcome Jorge to sbe,” stated Nazarian. “In December, we announced the acquisition of Morgans Hotel Group and greatly expanded our...
The Anime Tourism Association, in collaboration with Kadokawa ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc., is accepting applications for a trail tour and trip to filming locations of “Your Name” (Kimi no Na wa), one of the biggest hit anime films in Japan. A total of 30 anime fans worldwide will receive invitations to an anime tour of Japan, sponsored by the Japanese Government. This tour will test the value of the Japanese anime community’s “sacred spot” locations by...
Alain St.Ange has confirmed he is a World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Candidate. The Former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine was born on 24 October 1954 on the island of La Digue where he spent much of his youth on his family’s agricultural estate, primarily dedicated to vanilla and coconut plantations, before pursuing his formal education at the Seychelles College in Mahé. He later continued his studies in Hotel Management in Germany and Tourism in...
The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) is partnering with the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) to urge President-elect Trump to reverse the decision to grant Norwegian Air International a foreign carrier permit. The two groups will meet in the nation’s capital for a Rally for U.S. Aviation Jobs on January 24. In the final days of his administration, President Obama granted Norwegian Air International (NAI) a foreign carrier permit, placing tens of...
Global infrastructure services company AECOM has hired Richard Gammon as Managing Director – Aviation, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMIA). Richard will be responsible for leading and growing AECOM’s aviation business across the region. Richard joins AECOM from HOK, where he was Global Director – Aviation and Transportation. A recognized industry expert and chartered architect, Richard has significant experience in the design and delivery of major aviation and transportation...
Airways Aviation and Emirates Aviation Services have formed a partnership to offer a direct pathway to a Private Pilot License (PPL) in the UAE through to a Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) in Europe or Australia. This new partnership allows aspiring pilots in Dubai and the GCC states the chance to study for a PPL in their region and, upon completion and being awarded a contract, move onto a MPL at one of Airways Aviation’s EASA or CASA training academies. Emirates Aviation Services will deliver...
The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) today responded to the leadership structure announcement by Southwest Airlines in which the company named Tom Nealon as president, among other promotions. Representing more than 8,500 pilots, SWAPA relies on key relationships in upper management, both as frontline operational leaders and as the collective bargaining unit for pilot labor at Southwest. “We are excited by and congratulate Mr. Nealon on his promotion to president. We...
New Zealand’s economy grew at the fastest annual pace in two years in the third quarter. Surging immigration, record-low borrowing costs and a housing boom are stoking New Zealand’s economy, which is among the fastest growing in the developed world. The economy expanded 3.6% in the second quarter from a year earlier, matching estimates and the most since the final quarter of 2014. Gross domestic product grew 0.9% from the first three months of the year. New Zealand’s annual...
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today issued a final rule that allows general aviation pilots to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate as long as they meet certain requirements outlined in Congressional legislation. “The United States has the world’s most robust general aviation community, and we’re committed to continuing to make it safer and more efficient to become a private pilot,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “The BasicMed rule will keep our pilots safe but...
