Executive appointments, 7-11 September

Peter Kearns is to take on a newly created role as Executive Director of tour operations with the Egyptian-owned Red Sea Group. 

Kearns previously worked with the Group to launch UK tour operator Red Sea Holidays in 2009. In his new role he will be involved in all of Red Sea Group’s international tour operations in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia.

Kearns left Red Sea Group in 2013 with a move to Jet2holidays as Tour Operation Director, “but this new role was one I simply couldn’t refuse,” he said. “Red Sea Group has very substantial tourism interests in Egypt and ambitious plans for their European operations. To be a part of that ambition and to bring the knowledge of the company I already have is a tremendous opportunity.”

Kearns has been appointed to spearhead Red Sea Group’s ambitious development strategy, expanding the ETI and Red Sea Holidays tour operating brands into new markets and new holiday destinations. “As well as Egypt, we already operate in Turkey, Greece and Croatia,” said Kearns, “and have more destinations in mind.”

He will also have responsibility for product development and differentiation of the Group’s substantial hotel and Nile cruise ship portfolio. He will drive strategy, harnessing the Group’s buying power, and benefitting from synergies across the businesses.

The management team set to oversee the new Hilton London Bankside has been revealed.

The ‘Magnificent Seven’ set to launch the hotel this month includes James Clarke (General Manager), Kelly Eichholtz (Director of Business Development), Paul Bates (Executive Chef), Raoul de Souza (Director of Food & Beverage), Ivan Drinkwater (Director of Finance), Kim Mouflier (Director of Rooms) and Stephen Atkinson (Head of Event Planning).

“We have put together a highly talented, award winning team to launch this stunning hotel,” commented Stuart Bailey, CEO of Splendid Hospitality. “Between them they have won a host of hospitality industry awards including three Cateys, an Acorn and numerous internal awards. They are an exceptional team that have been personally selected, to ensure the hotel can offer the very best experience to our business and leisure travelers and be the event destination of London.”

At the helm as general manager is double Catey winner James Clarke who has joined from Hilton Park Lane where he was Director of Operations. James has also gained international experience with the Waldorf Astoria in New York and last year he was awarded a scholarship by the Master Innholders to complete a General Manager Programme at Cornell University in the USA. Director of Business Development, Kelly Eichholtz joins from Crowne Plaza London – The City where she was Director of Sales and Marketing. Kelly brings with her extensive experience of national key account management working with Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) across the UK and Ireland as well as eight years of solid central London ‘city’ experience.

Andy Freeth, managing director for Travel 2 and Gold Medal, has appointed Matt Appleby to the newly created role of director of product and commercial across both brands.

Appleby joins the new senior management B2B team from Thomas Cook where he has held the position of head of long haul product for the last two years. Prior to that he spent three years in the role of head of product for Thomas Cook Scheduled Businesses, which included the Gold Medal and Netflights brands.

The new director of product and commercial Travel 2 and Gold Medal joins Gordon McCreadie, director of sales and marketing B2B, and Lisa Smith, director of operations B2B, to complete Freeth’s line up of direct reports on the new senior management B2B team, supporting him across both brands.

Following the recent commercial restructure at Carnival UK, Tony Roberts has been appointed vice president for Princess Cruises, UK & Europe. 

He replaces Paul Ludlow who has joined P&O Cruises as senior vice president, sales & marketing.
Roberts, 40, has worked for Carnival UK for the past 15 years, most recently as director of technology partnering. Prior to this he held various other positions within the business, including roles in sales, customer services and finance.

He has initiated and launched a number of major projects alongside the commercial, sales and digital teams, including amongst others the introduction of the Polar Online booking systems; the launch of the Travel Agent Academy; and the development of the E-Ticketing and Cruise Personaliser platforms for guests.

Choice Hotels International has appointed two new corporate sales managers to its European Corporate Sales team.  

Babette Put has been appointed to the role, overseeing the Netherlands and Belgium. Babette has many years experience in the hospitality arena across the Netherlands, having held a number of roles with IHG and the Dutch management group, Apollo Hotels and Resorts. She is a graduate of Stenden University’s Hotel Management School in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands.

Kay Chudzinsky has been appointed Corporate Sales Manager, Germany. He brings strong hotel management experience from previous roles at Steigenberger, Golden Tulip and Refad Hotels and resorts, and most recently, as Senior Sales Manager for Ascott Hospitality’s Citadines offering.

Both these newly-created sales management roles will be responsible for developing strong relationships with corporate clients, Travel Management Companies, Hotel Booking Agencies, travel agencies and consortias in their relevant markets in order to increase business travel occupancy in Choice’s European network of franchised hotels.

Belmond Ltd. has appointed Maria Kuhn Corporate Director of Communications.

Kuhn will be responsible for developing the global communications strategy, guiding and supervising the global PR team, and building Belmond’s brand reputation worldwide.

She will oversee targeted PR campaigns for the upcoming launches of Belmond Grand Hibernian, Ireland’s first luxury touring train; and Belmond Cadogan Hotel in Knightsbridge, the company’s first London hotel.