Carrier, InteleTravel, Travel Counsellors: this week's travel trade people moves

Carrier has appointed industry veteran Rebecca Turner as its new head of product as part of its ongoing aim to elevate the luxury portfolio. She joins the luxury operator after a five-year stint at Elegant Resorts and 13 years at Gold Medal, where she helped the company navigate the transition from private ownership to becoming part of Thomas Cook and later Dnata. Turner will be tasked with leading Carrier’s product team to expand its portfolio of exclusive luxury experiences. “I am thrilled to join this incredibly talented team and eagerly anticipate contributing to the ongoing success, driven by unique and exhilarating product offerings tailored for the ultra-high-net-worth individual market,” Turner commented.

InteleTravel has expanded its head office team with the promotion of Geraldine Nolan to the newly-created role of director of partner relations as well as three other appointments. Barbro Kurkov joins the homeworking giant as marketing communications executive while recent graduate Peal Vora has been appointed to finance executive support. Former Sunworld agency relationship manager Ann-Marie Durkin joins as country manager for Ireland, reporting directly to UK and Ireland managing director Tricia Handley-Hughes. “Our growth over the last five years has been beyond expectation, so the time is right to review the current structure. This expansion will help us achieve our 2025 vision and deliver our new training, recognition and reward programmes,” said Handley-Hughes.

Jody Rolfe has become Tui’s new finance director for the UK and Ireland following Henrik Andersson’s move to Tui Musement. In his new role, Rolfe will oversee all commercial business partnering as well as payroll, overheads and treasury. “Rolfe’s extensive experience in finance and leadership within the Tui Group makes him a valuable addition to the board, as the company continues to drive strategic growth and innovation,” said managing director Neil Swanson. “Under his leadership, the finance teams have forged strong collaborations with Tui Group and UK&I, driving operational success and efficiency." Rolfe has worked for Tui twice: the first time in 2013, when he joined a financial controller before rising through the ranks to become head of finance for performance and planning. Then he came back as commercial director in January 2022 after a 15-month stint at Tesco.

Corendon Airlines has ramped up its focus on the British market with the appointment of Matthew Carpenter as its newest UK sales manager. Carpenter, who joins from accommodation supplier Youtravel.com, will focus on strengthening the airline’s relationship with travel agents and tour operators. “Matthew is a great addition to our team, as we increase our focus on the UK market,” said head of sales and marketing Christian Hein, who joined Corendon in June. “Our goal is to expand our partnerships with tour operators and travel agencies. We’ve already taken the first steps and will continue to develop these efforts in the coming period.”

Lemongrass chief executive Mirjam Peternek McCartney has become the latest member of Travel by B Corp’s board of directors, joining the likes of Intrepid Travel UK & Europe general manager Hazel McGuire and Felloh founder Will Bicknell. “Marketing needs to move from driving consumption towards becoming a creative agent of change,” Peternek said. “I will be firmly driving this agenda within my role on the Travel by B Corp board, working with members to spread the message far and wide, and providing strategies on how travel brands can affect this, and with impact.” Founded in 2021, Travel by B Corp is a collective comprising more than 40 travel related B Corp companies – including TTG – that lobbies for more sustainable travel.

Travel Counsellors has bolstered its business development team with the appointment of Ricky Gudgeon and Athenee Graham as business development managers. Both Gudgeon and Graham join from Corporate Travel Management, where they held senior sales positions. In their new roles, Gudgeon and Graham will focus on driving new business to the corporate travel arm, supporting the seven-strong team led by Wayne Durkin. “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Athenee and Ricky to the business development team,” said corporate director Mel Quinn. “Alongside our latest hires, the wealth of experience, passion for corporate travel and dedicated skillset between the team will be essential in not only supporting new corporate travel business, but also sees them work closely with our corporate Travel Counsellors to ensure that the strong relationships we forge with our clients right at the beginning of their journey with us continue to grow.”

Andrew Bolton has replaced Danny Giles as Ponant’s new sales manager for the north of England, Scotland and Ireland. Bolton – who joins following a 20-year stint at Celebrity Cruises – will focus on supporting Ponant’s passenger, revenue and profit targets while sourcing new markets. He will report to UK and Ireland general manager Anthony Daniels and will work alongside Vladislav Saveliev, general manager for the Midlands and the south of England. Bolton’s appointment comes as Ponant is looking to expand the team by recruiting a sales and marketing coordinator. 

SPL Villas has promoted Laura Ingeri to the newly-created role of general manager as part of its strategy to work proactively with the trade. Ingeri joined SPL Villas in 2023 as head of product and commercial after stints at the likes of STA Travel, Iglu.com and Best at Travel. In her new role, she will be responsible for SPL Villas’ operations as well as sales and marketing and will be in charge of managing the company’s new head of marketing – a role for which the brand is currently recruiting. “The strategic decision we took to engage more proactively with the trade is paying off - we’re grateful for their support and look forward to working even more closely in 2025,” Ingeri commented. “And the improvements we made to our brand and website - particularly the flight booking functionality - is really resonating with customers. I’m excited to have the chance to help the business build on that further in this new role.”

Balkan Holidays national sales manager Lynsey Jones has been promoted to the newly-created role of head of sales and brand following a restructure at the tour operator. Jones, who joined the company in 2019 as regional sales manager, will oversee sales and marketing for both trade and direct channels to ensure a more streamlined approach. Commenting on the announcement, head of product and commercial Andy Jones said: “It is crucial that we grow our business both through the trade and direct channels and we are very pleased that Lynsey has accepted this new role. With her drive, enthusiasm and love of travel, we are confident that she will be very successful in driving our sales forward now and in the future.” It comes as Emiliyan Stoyanov has been promoted to sales and marketing associate while regional sales manager Natasha Smith will take over the homeworker remit as two new regional sales managers will be confirmed in December.

Bed bank Galaxi has appointed Youtravel.com partnerships manager Josh Lewis as its new head of partnerships. Lewis’s new focus will be on overseeing old partnerships while forging newer ones as well as organising events for hotel and tourism boards and offering travel agents more training. “I’m thrilled to be joining Galaxi and to work alongside Phil and Craig, with whom I’ve had a great relationship for many years,” Lewis commented. “I’m particularly excited about the chance to strengthen our relationships and onboard some new partners and to deliver even more exciting events and various marketing solutions over the next 12 months.”