This week: Direct Travel realigned its management structure (banner photo); Voyzant and Ensemble named new VPs; and Travelport-connected agencies now have full access to Air Canada NDC content; and agents will find themselves in a fine pickle with Sandals’ new incentive.
Direct Travel
Direct Travel has made a strategic realignment of its Leisure division to provide more focused support for travel advisors, accelerate sales growth, and establish a strong data foundation for next-generation technology.
The reorganization introduces a simplified, sales-focused model that aligns teams to advisor needs rather than geography:
- The Host Services division, led by Joelle Goldman, VP Host Services and Luxury Hotel Program, will continue to provide dedicated resources for independent advisors, ensuring faster access to expertise, stronger day-to-day support, and clearer paths to growth.
- Julie Skinner, SVP Leisure Sales, will oversee Direct Travel’s network of employee advisors across North America. By unifying Retail under one vision, she and her management team will deliver consistent sales support, training, and client engagement strategies that help advisors strengthen relationships and capture new opportunities.
- Vivienne Kouba, SVP Leisure Operations, will lead a consolidated Operations team supporting both Retail and Host Services advisors throughout North America. This alignment will streamline workflows, standardize service levels, and improve turnaround times – enabling advisors to focus more time on clients while leveraging a stronger operational infrastructure.
- Rene Schneeberger, SVP Groups & Revenue Optimization, will work closely with Gerard Bellino, President, Leisure Travel to expand the leisure organization based on the recent acquisition of ATPI by Direct Travel and optimize supplier contracts. He will also continue to lead the North American Groups team, expanding this critical area by sharing best practices across Direct Travel’s network of more than 900 advisors to help diversify and grow their sales mix.
- As part of the restructuring, Rebecca Adams has been appointed VP, Data Strategy & Insights, Leisure Travel. She will unify data sources, define enterprise standards, and deliver analytics that fuel smarter tools and more efficient workflows.
- And Stephen Smith has been named EVP, Leisure Travel, and is taking on an expanded role that includes overseeing Partnerships, Strategy & Marketing and driving leisure technology innovation.
“This integration will bring tighter collaboration, smarter tools, and innovative programs designed to help advisors succeed across every channel,” said Smith.
First in Service Travel
Another Air Canada Circle of Excellence winner this year is First in Service Travel (F1S), again named a Platinum Agency (the airline’s highest award).
“Being recognized as an Air Canada Circle of Excellence Platinum Agency for the fourth year in a row is an immense honour reflecting the extraordinary work of our advisors and our commitment to building enduring partnerships,” said Fernando Gonzalez, CEO of First in Service. “Air Canada is an enormously valued and essential partner for our advisors and their clients in Canada and beyond, and this recognition reinforces our shared commitment to excellence.”
“This honour speaks directly to the culture of care and professionalism that our advisors demonstrate every day,” added Willa Griffin, who oversees the F1S Canadian operations. “We are grateful to Air Canada for acknowledging the strength of our partnership and the dedication of our Canadian expert advisors, who consistently deliver FANAT1CAL Service to our clients.”
Voyzant Corporate Travel
Voyzant Corporate Travel has announced the appointment of Ely Matlow as Vice President of Sales, a strategic addition to its leadership team as the company positions for sustained growth in the evolving corporate travel sector. Matlow brings over 15 years of sales leadership and deep expertise in the travel industry to this role, where he will be responsible for the corporate travel global sales team, expanding Voyzant’s market presence and driving enterprise client acquisition.
“Ely’s proven track record in building high-performing sales teams and deep understanding of travel technology makes him the ideal leader to help our clients navigate market complexities,” said Executive VP Ravi Kumar. “There is a powerful opportunity to work with a consolidated, trusted name that offers both cutting-edge analytics and human expertise, and Ely is the right person to bring that value proposition to the market. His leadership will be invaluable as we strengthen our client partnerships in this dynamic environment.”
Ensemble
Ensemble has announced the appointment of Daniel Finkel as Sr. VP. Partner Relations, effective immediately. Finkel will lead Ensemble’s partner strategy with an external-first focus deepening relationships with preferred suppliers and negotiating high-value, profitable agreements that enhance member success.
Based in Seattle, Finkel brings a proven track record of more than 13 years in the global travel space, having shaped strategy, partnerships, and growth at some of the industry’s most recognized brands, including Expedia, Navan, Fareportal, and Navigatr.
Air Canada, Travelport
The full-range of Air Canada’s NDC content is now available to Travelport-connected travel agencies and travel management companies using Travelport+.
Travelport is a multi-source content provider, and agents using Travelport+, the modern retailing platform built for agents, can view and compare the full range of fares and services from Air Canada seamlessly in a single view, improving their ability to easily and quickly book the best offers for travellers.
“Our NDC launch with Travelport marks an important milestone in Air Canada’s digital transformation journey as we can now offer our best, completely retail-ready content to travel buyers through expanded NDC offers and services on Travelport’s platform,” said Keith Wallis, the airline’s Managing Director, Customer Digital and Distribution. “Our travel trade partners were, are and always will be crucial to our success, and now they will be able to easily search, view, and compare our NDC offerings to create and deliver more personalized and seamless travel experiences for our customers.”
Sandals Resorts
In honour of World Pickleball Day last week, Sandals Resorts announced a new travel advisor booking incentive featuring a number of pickleball-themed prizes. The top three travel advisors across Canada and the United States with the highest earnings from bookings made to Sandals South Coast between Oct. 10 and Nov. 10 (and for travel through March 31, 2026) will win:
- Grand Prize – One 4-day/3-night land only stay in a Butler Suite at Sandals South Coast plus a complimentary private Pickleball lesson with a certified Pickleball coach on-site plus premium Pickleball gear
- Second and Third Prizes – Pickleball Prize Packages including premium gear, gift cards and more.
To be eligible, Canadian advisors can book with their preferred Canadian tour operator but must register the booking on Sandals TA Portal within 30 days or book with Unique Vacations Canada. Winners will be announced on or around Dec. 12, 2025.
If this article was shared with you by a friend or colleague, you may enjoy receiving your own copy of Travel Industry Today with the latest travel news and reviews each weekday morning. It’s absolutely free – just CLICK HERE.