APT, Inside Travel, Advantage: all the latest travel trade people moves

Charlie Orr has rejoined InsideJapan and InsideAsia parent Inside Travel Group as the group's newest business development manager. Orr, who left the group at the height of the pandemic, returns after after a two-year stint with the Japan and Asia specialist prior to Covid. He joins ITG's trade team working alongside fellow BDM Holly Brown and head of trade Gabo Quiros. "I cannot wait to get out there to support our agent partners," said Orr. His appointment follows the launch of InsideJapan's small group tours programme for 2025, and amid growing demand for South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos "as standalone destinations".

Travel Solutions has bolstered its senior leadership team with the appointment of Diane Poole OBE as its new head of commercial. Managing director Peter McMinn said Poole would bring "vast" travel and tourism sector experience and insight to her new role with following spells with Northern Ireland railways, Seacat, Norfolkline and Stena Line. She has also represented destinations such as Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast and Glens and other attractions. Poole said she was looking forward to working closely with suppliers and travel agency partners. Travel Solutions added it was continuing to add "new and creative product" to its portfolio of holidays departing the UK and Ireland.

The Advantage Travel Partnership has appointed a new head of air, ground and technology supplier partnerships. Nick Wickers will join Advantage's global business travel team, reporting to managing director of global business travel Andrea Caulfield-Smith. He is a former head of air at Saga Travel Group and head of supplier relations at Diversity Travel, and has also held roles with Travel 2 and Travelport. Advantage said Wickers would work closely with the consortium's commercial director John Sullivan and chief commercial officer Kelly Cookes "to ensure the group remains laser focused on leveraging its significant global size and scale" to "deliver enhanced commercial benefits to all its members".

Mercury Holidays has appointed Chris Armond as its first-ever chief marketing officer. Armond joins Mercury following a spell as a freelance marking consultant. Earlier in his career, he worked with travel brands including Thomas Cook, Neilson and Eurostar before joining Tui and rising to the role of head of digital marketing. He went on to link up with Loveholidays as marketing director and later Ocean Holidays, where he served as group marketing director. He will lead on marketing at Mercury as it embarks on its "next stage of growth", with specific focus on developing the operator's digital marketing strategy for escorted tours and winter sun destinations.

AE Expeditions' new chief marketing officer, Greg Cormier, believes he has joined the brand at a "pivotal moment" with the line poised to launch a third ship next year and venture to southeast Asia for the first time in 2026. Toronto-based Cormier brings more than 20 years' brand and digital marketing experience to AE, and will work closely with the firm's global marketing and sales teams. "I’m excited to build on the incredible work that has already been done and lead the team into this next chapter of global growth and expansion," said Cormier, who will be responsible for driving global growth for AE – particularly market share in North America – and improving the brand's digital experience.

Doug Glenwright has been appointed to a newly created guest experience director role with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. Glenwright said he would "give guests a voice in the boardroom". Elsewhere, Fred Olsen has welcomed Sonia Holman as its new e-commerce and marketing director. It has also made a strong of senior promotions. Clare Ward has become commercial and product director, Susana Entrena hotel operations director and Martin Lister head of product innovation. Chief executive Samantha Stimpson said the shake-up would help the line "adapt to meet the challenges and opportunities" inherent in the cruise industry.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization has confirmed its new chair, as well as the new chair of its board of directors. Barbados's minister of tourism and international transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill (pictured), takes over from Kenneth Bryan as CTO chair, which will see him lead the CTO's council of ministers and tourism commissioners for the next two years. The CTO said the appointment came at a crucial time as the region sees increases in airlift and cruise deployment. In addition, Andrea Franklin, chief executive of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, has become chair of the CTO's board of directors. In her role, she will focus on climate resilience, increasing airlift and developing new product.

Former Silversea senior vice-president of sales and revenues Massimo Brancaleoni will join Kempinski Hotels as its new chief commercial officer later this year. Brancaleoni, whose career spans more than 25 years, 20 of which he spent with cruise ship company Costa Crociere, will take up his new role on 1 November after leaving Silversea earlier this year. He will link up with former Silversea president Barbara Muckerman, who joined Kempinski as its chief executive in May after leaving the luxury line in April. Brancaleoni replaces Amanda Elder, who will leave Kempinski after more than eight years.

Daryl Kornelsen has been named as Viva Cruises' new head of global sales, a role that will include oversight for the UK market. Viva chief executive Andrea Kruse said Kornelsen would bring a "deep understanding" of the cruise market to the role. "We are convinced he will be instrumental in shaping our global growth and will play a key role in further development and expansion of Viva Cruises' international sales strategy – including the UK market," Kruse added. Kornelsen has held senior positions with Leading Hotels of the World, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and IHG’s luxury and lifestyle division.

Villa specialist Solmar has brought an operations director and chief technology and product officer into the business. Sue Goddard joins as operations director, and will lead on day-to-day operations and customer experience, overseeing Solmar's pre-travel, overseas and customer resolution teams. Prior to joining Solmar, Goddard spent more than 17 years with Center Parcs. Solmar has also named Brian Mebourne as its chief technology and product officer, who joins after spending 15 years with Hotelbeds-owned B2B travel distributor GTA. He joined Solmar Villas this summer and will be responsible for delivering technology strategy across the entire business, including digital and operational touchpoints.