Willie Walsh has officially taken over as Director General of the International Air Transport Association (Iata). He succeeds Alexandre de Juniac.
“I am passionate about our industry and about the critical work that Iata does on behalf of its members, never more so than during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Walsh.
“My goal is to ensure that Iata is a forceful voice supporting the success of global air transport. We will work with supporters and critics alike to deliver on our commitments to an environmentally sustainable airline industry. It’s my job to make sure that governments, which rely on the economic and social benefits our industry generates, also understand the policies we need to deliver those benefits,” he added.
Walsh joins Iata after a 40-year career in the airline industry. He retired from the International Airlines Group (IAG) in September 2020 after serving as its CEO since its inception in 2011. Prior to that he was CEO of British Airways (2005-2011) and CEO of Aer Lingus (2001-2005). He began his career in aviation at Aer Lingus in 1979 as a cadet pilot.
Walsh is deeply familiar with Iata, having served on the Iata Board of Governors for almost 13 years from 2005 to 2018, including serving as Chair (2016-2017). He will work from the Association’s Executive Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
Erasmus takes on new challenge
TrevPar World group has launched TrevPar World Distribution to offer existing and new hospitality operators stable, scalable, and affordable connectivity in the market to the world's global distribution systems.
The group has appointed Darryl Erasmus as Managing Director of the new venture. Erasmus has worked with various brands, such as Protea Hotels by Marriott and the IHG-owned Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands.
He has also led marketing and corporate communications efforts across Africa for the global travel e-commerce giant, Travelport, before spending a short stint outside the sector as Chief Executive of technology provider, Questek.
Most recently, as the Chief Quality Assurance Officer and the Chief Experience Officer at South African Tourism and the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, Erasmus was instrumental in guiding the efforts of the destination to promote and position South Africa as a quality-assured, diverse and unique visitor experience destination.
The group also welcomed Michael Breytenbach as an analyst to the team. A graduate of the Swiss Hotel School South Africa and University of Johannesburg Hospitality Management, Breytenbach will be assisting TrevPar World Total Revenue Management clients with developing and implementing strategic data-driven revenue-generating strategies.
Top chef to focus on growing F&B at City Lodge
City Lodge Hotel Group has appointed one of South Africa’s top chefs, Trevor Boyd, to the newly created position of General Manager: Food and Beverage, effective April 1.
Boyd started his culinary career as a chef on Rovos Rail after completing his National Diploma in Catering Management at Wits Technikon Hotel School. He has worked at, amongst others, the Mount Nelson Hotel, Sheraton Hotel Pretoria and at HTA School of Culinary Art as Culinary Quality Assurance Manager.
Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, Chief Operating Officer at City Lodge Hotel Group, says, “The City Lodge Hotel Group has had an enormous amount of success in its culinary journey to date, which has contributed towards excellent guest feedback and superb revenue growth.
“During the past two years, including the challenging COVID-19 period, we have immersed ourselves in listening and reacting to the evolving wants and needs of our guests. In order to embrace the changing traveller and hone our competitive edge, we have taken the strategic move towards creatively and cleverly enhancing our food and beverage offerings across all brands of the group.”
