The latest industry appointments

DOUGLAS MARTELL has been named as Onyx Hospitality Group’s new executive vice president and chief operating officer. Martell joins the Thailand-based company with 25 years’ experience, 13 of which were spent with IHG, most recently as vice president of operations for Southwest Asia.

DAVID STEPETIC has been appointed as the new general manager of Jumeirah Dhevanafushi. A US national, Stepetic arrives in the Maldives from Laucala Island Resort in Fiji where he served as general manager for the past two years. He previously had a 19-year spell with Four Seasons.

RATNA MEHTA has become the new marketing manager for Tourism Malaysia’s operations in Mumbai. Ms Mehta has significant experience in the travel trade sector, and will now be tasked with handling Tourism Malaysia’s marketing and promotional activities for the Indian market.

MARK CLARKSON has been appointed business development director for Asia Pacific at aviation analysts OAG. Clarkson was formerly OAG’s London-based commercial director and will now be based in Singapore. Prior to joining OAG he worked with consultancy firm Airport Strategy Marketing (ASM).

MC KAVITHA has been announced as Tourism Malaysia’s new marketing manager for South India. Ms Kavitha has 17 years of experience in the travel arena and has worked with several airlines, including Qatar Airways and SriLankan Airlines. She will now be based in Chennai.

ROME PANITKULJAKKRAWAL has become the new group training manager for Absolute Hotel Services. A British-Thai national, he joins AHS from The Core Academy in the UK, where as business development manager he developed recruitment, training and sales aids for the hospitality sector.

SNEHA RAI has been appointed as Tourism Malaysia’s new marketing executive, based in Mumbai.
Ms Rai’s primary role will be to provide information to Indian travel agents, tour operators, airlines and media, in order to promote Malaysia as a destination for Indian travellers.