17 MAY 2018: Here’s the shocker announcement: “Flair Airlines is delighted to announce that David M. Tait OBE has joined the Kelowna BC based low fare carrier in the capacity of Executive Chairman.” What? Our David Tait? Yes. It’s no joke folks – he’s crossed to the other side.

Travel Professional International (TPI), has announced the appointment of Caroline Hay as director of sales, Ontario.  Hay will report directly to Zeina Gedeon, chief executive officer, and in this newly defined position, will be responsible for all sales channels while ensuring continued development and growth of its member-based business. Hay will be based in the Greater Toronto Area.

17 APR2018: Air Canada Vacations has appointed Dana Gain to the role of senior director Sales, Groups and Partnerships effective April 23. Gain will be responsible for the development of the national sales strategy, as well as supporting and growing all the B2B lines of business and increasing distribution channels. She will also continue to forge strategic partnerships and will manage all partnership agreements.

28 MAR 2018: St. Vincent and The Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA) have announced that they have selected VoX International as their public relations and communications representative in Canada. VoX will be managing media relations and day-to-day operations for the Canadian market.

21 MAR 2018: Adam Goldstein joined RCL way back in 1988 and has held a variety of posts including CEO of Royal Caribbean International. Currently serving as RCL's president and chief operating officer as of May this year he becomes vice chairman of the cruise line.

20 MAR 2018: Brad Dean has been named as CEO of Puerto Rico's new destination marketing organization. Dean takes over next month and joins from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce where he was president and CEO.

12 MAR 2018: WestJet Airlines Ltd.'s announcement of a new chief executive, effective immediately, marks an abrupt end to an eight-year run for outgoing CEO Gregg Saretsky, who is retiring just months before the airline is expected to unveil its new ultra-low-cost carrier Swoop, which has been the source of labour disputes between unionized pilots and the company.

O6 MAR 2018: Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB) announced that Erick Garnica has joined its leisure sales staff as senior director, Leisure Travel Industry Sales. With 17 years of sales success, Garnica brings a wealth of experience and firsthand knowledge of Florida to the team. In his new role, he will provide strategic direction and leadership for leisure travel industry programmes and oversee development of worldwide leisure markets.

05 MAR 2018: Swoop has announced that Steven Greenway will take over as president of WestJet's ultra-low-cost-carrier starting today. WestJet also announced that Bob Cummings, who was in charge of the Swoop launch, will move into the role of WestJet executive vice-president, strategy and guest services. Both men will report directly to WestJet Group president and CEO, Gregg Saretsky.

12 FEB 2018: Fathom Communications announced a partnership with Choose Chicago, the official destination marketing organization for Chicago, effective February 1. The Oakville, Ontario, based company will be supporting the Choose Chicago team with strategic media relations, event management and media missions targeting consumer and trade outlets across Canada.

06 FEB 2018: TUI managing director UK and Ireland Nick Longman is leaving the company after 20 years to 'pursue new business challenges'. In a statement TUI said, "Under Longman's leadership, TUI UK and Ireland has achieved commercial success, launched two new cruise ships, seen developments in the Retail estate, the e-Commerce programme, Contact Centre operations and he led the business through the rebrand to TUI."

O5 FEB 2018: Transat has announced the appointment of Jordi Sole as President of its new hotel division, effective February 20. Sole, who has worked for major international resort chains, will lead Transat's entire hotel development operations in the Caribbean and Mexico.

01 FEB 2018: AmaWaterways announced the promotion of Alex Pinelo and Donna Cook. Both recently joined the company in other senior roles and have been appointed as directors of national accounts.

30 JAN 2018: Donovan White has been selected to fill the position of Director of Tourism of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), after an extensive local and international search. His appointment has been announced by Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett.

25 JAN 2018: Stephanie Bishop, managing director of the Globus family of brands in Canada, has  announced the promotion of Patrice Geske to the new position of director of marketing.

23 JAN 2018: WestJet has announced Alfredo Tan as chief digital and innovation officer. Tan will join WestJet on March 5. Reporting to Ed Sims, executive vice-president, commercial, Tan will head the further development and rollout of WestJet's digital strategy as the airline transitions from a low-cost, point-to-point carrier to a fully-fledged network airline.

19 JAN 2018: Travel Professionals International (TPI) has announced that industry veteran Zeina Gedeon has joined the company in the position of chief executive officer, effective immediately. Gedeon will focus on two key priority areas - growth and innovation.

18 JAN 2018: Transat announced with regret that Denise Heffron, vice president, national sales and commercial, will retire from Transat on March 2 after almost 25 years at the company.

12 JAN 2018: WestJet has announced three new vice-presidents will be joining the senior leadership team. Gandeephan Ganeshalingam joins as vice-president, lean and continuous improvement, Stuart McDonald as vice-president and chief technology officer and Scott Groh as vice-president, crew resources.

04 JAN 2018: Bermuda Tourism Authority selected Connect Worldwide Canada (CWW Canada) as their new integrated public relations, tourism trade marketing and business groups’ representation agency in Canada.

29 NOV 2017: Airbus is replacing its combative, long-serving sales chief with a Rolls Royce executive as the European plane maker tries to stay competitive with Boeing. Eric Schulz will take over as chief of sales for Airbus commercial planes in January, the company said Tuesday, calling it “a critical juncture of our company's development.”

20 NOV 2017: Luxury all-inclusive river cruise line Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has announced the promotion of veteran travel executive Michelle Palma to the new position of vice president, Field Sales for North America. In this expanded role, Palma becomes directly responsible for the strategic, functional and administrative management of all Uniworld district sales managers throughout the United States and Canada.

13 NOV 2017: EasyJet has a new CEO and his is a familiar face to the Canadian travel and tourism industry. Johan Lundgren will replace Carolyn McCall as chief executive of the airline.

O2 NOV 2017: Philip Rose, the Jamaica Tourist Board’s regional director in Canada, has announced the appointment of Emma Madsen as business development manager in Western Canada. Effective immediately Madsen will be responsible for developing the JTB’s sales initiatives in Western Canada.

31 OCT 2017: Cruise industry professional, Richard Pruitt, has been named vice president, environmental operations at Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line effective November 20. Pruitt will be focused on further strengthening and expanding the company’s shipboard and shoreside environmental programmes and practices.