Audley Travel, Stuba, Aito: this week's travel trade people moves

Travel training provider Talent Vista has hired the services of Abta’s former head of membership Danny Waine. Talent Vista offers a range of leisure and business products for travel agents, tour operators, cruise lines, homeworking businesses and travel management companies. After taking on the role, Waine highlighted how “retaining” talent in the industry remains “a challenge”. “The products that Talent Vista offers can help plug those gaps, enabling travel companies to flourish,” he added. It comes after AI start-up SystemsX commissioned Waine to help it launch to the trade.

B2B accommodation specialist Stuba has bolstered its UK and Ireland sales team with the appointment of Kevin Rodgers as business development manager for Scotland and the north, alongside key updates to its existing team. Rodgers joins after 16 months at SLC Representation, where he held the role of account manager and event coordinator. Prior to that role, he held inside sales and reservations at AE Expeditions and Stewart Travel as well as If Only, where he served as product and commercial executive. In his new role, he will offer visits, training and support to agents. In addition, Anna Hawkins has been promoted to senior business development manager, while business development managers Lisa Charles and Don Clarke have had their remits expanded.

Inspiretec chief revenue officer Jon Pickles has been appointed chair of the Travel Technology Initiative (TTI). Pickles has been a long-term advocate of the informative role that TTI plays within the travel technology community, with TTI saying: “Jon’s key mission is to continue showcasing the most relevant, innovative travel technologies and new applications to TTI audiences, while identifying game changers, and employing a forward-thinking approach to the organisation.”

Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hotel brand and global provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to member hotels, has named Anna Moore as UK and Ireland regional director and Dan Clark as vice-president, global leisure sales – Europe. Moore will focus on the retention and expansion of the brand’s portfolio within the UK and Ireland, a region which consists of 30 member hotels, resorts and residences. Clark, meanwhile, will lead the brand’s global leisure sales strategy in Europe and focus on strengthening relationships with the travel agent community.

Stefan Pinfold has joined the Association of Independent Tour Operators (Aito) as its marketing and events executive. In the newly created role, Pinfold will be working on marketing and communications collateral for the trade body alongside Yvonne Kinder, Aito’s partnerships and events manager.