Riviera, Travel Counsellors, Abta: this week's travel trade people moves

Abta has revealed Giles Hawke, Celebrity Cruises’ vice-president and managing director for the UK, Ireland and EMEA, will join its board after winning an election. The trade association confirmed the result of the election last week. The vacant position was contested by Hawke and Paul Ludlow, of Carnival PLC. Abta members voted for Hawke to fill the spot for principal members with a turnover not less than £50 million. He will take up his position on 28 November.  

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has created a new head of procurement role and appointed Jenna Wallis to fill it. Wallis brings 15 years’ procurement experience to the position which is aimed at driving sustainable growth through strategic procurement. The line also recently appointed Doug Glenwright as guest experience director and Sonia Holman as e-commerce and marketing director. Chief executive Samantha Stimpson said: “These new appointments further strengthen my team and reflect our commitment to continually evolving.” 

Travelopia’s former head of brand and acquisition, Katy Potten, has joined Riviera Travel as head of brand, campaigns and PR, effective immediately. She will be responsible for Riviera’s brand and campaigns strategy and will oversee creative output, including marketing planning, campaign and product launches and content production. She will report into marketing director Sarah Fowler. Prior to Riviera, Potten worked for Merlin Entertainment, easyJet and Tui. 

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, former Celebrity Cruises president and chief executive, is starting her role as chair of the board at Hornblower Group. The company operates dining and sightseeing cruises, excursions, ferry and transportation services, vessel overhaul and maintenance. In July, the company emerged from a Chapter 11 restructuring with new majority owners and smaller portfolio after closing down American Queen Voyages in February. 

The Jamaica Tourist Board has named a new business development officer to cover the south of the country. Sean-Pierre Webster joins the JTB’s business development team following a spell with Midwest USA, where he managed markets including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri. Donovan White, JTB’s tourism director, said Webster’s understanding of Jamaica’s markets “will play a vital role in our growth strategy”. 

Singapore Tourism Board has appointed Marissa Sim as area director, northern and southwestern Europe. She will lead strategic planning, business development initiatives, trade engagement and marketing of Singapore across the countries that fall under her remit. She is responsible for the UK and Irish market. Sim will begin her role on 1 December once she moves to London. As of October 2024, UK visitor numbers rose by more than 26% year-on-year to 486,690 visitors.