Home Appointments
APPOINTMENTS

Janita Hubbard/TravelBrands

TravelBrands has appointed Janita Hubbard as Business Development Manager for British Columbia, strengthening its sales and partner support presence in Western Canada.

Hubbard brings more than 13 years of experience in the travel industry to the role. She founded Flying Solo Travel Club and most recently worked as an independent contractor with a leading retail travel organization.

Her background includes retail travel sales, business development, marketing and event coordination, providing broad insight into the needs of Canadian travel advisors.

In her new role, Hubbard will be responsible for managing and supporting TravelBrands’ retail partners across British Columbia. Her focus will include strengthening agency relationships, driving sales growth and expanding TravelBrands’ footprint in the province. Hubbard can be reached at [email protected].

Fiona Bowen/ACTA

ACTA has announced the promotion of Fiona Bowen to Senior Manager Membership, recognizing her outstanding contributions and more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry.

Bowen’s career spans retail travel agencies and tour operations, with 24 years of dedicated service to ACTA. Throughout her tenure, she has been a steadfast advocate for Canada’s travel advisor community, bringing deep industry knowledge, leadership and an unwavering commitment to member support and advocacy.

In her new role, Bowen continues to focus on empowering travel advisors to succeed and grow their businesses. Known for her collaborative approach and genuine passion for elevating the profession, she remains a trusted resource for ACTA members and a driving force behind initiatives that strengthen and advance the industry.

Jocelyn Black/Bannikin

Bannikin has announced the appointment of Jocelyn Black as Senior Relationship Manager – Media Relations, strengthening the company’s media relations capabilities across its client-partner portfolio. Based in Toronto, Black brings more than 10 years of experience in travel, tourism, and destination communications. Her career spans senior roles across both client and agency environments, where she has led national and international media relations programs for destinations, expedition cruise companies, and travel brands, with a particular focus on adventure travel and responsible tourism.

Prior to joining Bannikin, Black held senior communications roles with Tourism Ireland and Aurora Expeditions. In these positions, she led Canadian and global PR strategies, managed media partnerships, and delivered integrated communications programs across multiple international markets. In her new role, Black will lead media relations strategy and execution for select Bannikin client-partners, supporting their brand positioning, long-term media relationships, and continued growth in North America, and other markets. She will work closely across Bannikin’s team to ensure media activity aligns with broader marketing and business objectives, including the recent relaunch of Bannikin’s travel trade development services.

Siba Hasna/Zebrano Travel

Zebrano Travel is growing and expanding its team as part of its commitment to elevating the ultra-high-net worth travel experience in Canada and in response to growing demand for bespoke and highly personalized service.

Siba Hasna joins Zebrano Travel as Vice President, Client Experience. Hasna, with a background in private aviation, brings with her a wealth of expertise and a detail oriented approach to luxury trip planning.

She excels in client relationship management, logistics, coordination, and project leadership. In her new role, she will steward the sales pipeline, oversee client management, and direct all operational initiatives at Zebrano Travel.

Hasna’s focus will be on orchestrating seamless trip planning, crafting immersive experiences, and customizing itineraries to exceed client expectations and delivering unforgettable memories.

Kristen Babis/Boat Bike Tours

Boat Bike Tours, the leading operator of cruise-and-cycle tours in Europe, has hired Kristen Babis as Sales Development Manager for North America. With bookings from the U.S. and Canada making up the fastest growing segment of Boat Bike Tours’ business, Babis will focus on outreach to travel advisors across the two countries to boost awareness of the company’s offerings.

Babis brings 20 years of sales experience in both B2C and B2B sales, and will offer personal support to travel advisors, researching questions for them and their clients, sharing marketing materials like brochures and email content, holding educational webinars and representing the company at trade shows.

Babis and the company’s North American team of tour advisors are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern at 800-BBT-5474 (800-228-5474).

Boat Bike Tours is a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA).

Karen Fine/TRAVELSAVERS Canada

TRAVELSAVERS Canada has appointed Karen Fine as Senior Business Analyst, further strengthening its commitment to strategic support for its affiliated travel advisors.

Fine brings more than 17 years of experience in the travel industry, spanning frontline sales, retail leadership, luxury travel, and operational management. In past senior leadership roles, she oversaw high-volume operations, exceeded sales targets, and focused on performance optimization, client retention, and data-informed decision-making.

As a Senior Business Analyst, Fine will work closely with agencies to analyze advisor performance, identify growth opportunities, and translate insights into practical strategies advisors can implement easily. She will support Canadian advisors as they navigate rising costs, shifting consumer expectations, and increased competition in the marketplace.

Tamara Mallin/Frontiers North Adventures

Frontiers North Adventures has named Tamara Mallin as its new Director, Sales, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships. Mallin brings a wealth of experience to the role, most recently leading the Strategic Partnerships team at Fresh Tracks Canada, where she spearheaded a new acquisition, supported the discovery and development of a new brand and cultivated a new travel trade distribution channel.

Prior to her time at Fresh Tracks Canada, Mallin spent seven years with Rocky Mountaineer as Director of Sales, Canada, Wholesale and Group Tour Block. During her tenure, she helped expand global partnerships and strengthen North American consortium relationships. Mallin now looks forward to increasing visitation to Churchill, Canada by further bolstering Frontiers North Adventures’ travel trade partnerships.

Gail Lea/Expedia TAAP

Expedia TAAP has named Gail Lea as Business Development Manager and Account Manager for Canada. With over 20 years of experience in tourism marketing, destination development, and front-line travel advising, Lea brings a strong combination of industry insight, strategic capability, and relationship-driven leadership.

Lea began her career as a travel agent, giving her an in-depth understanding of advisor needs and operational realities. Her work has included the development of market-specific training, sales initiatives, and the creation of FAM de Femmes, a series of curated FAM trips designed to enhance professional growth and cultural immersion.

In her new role, she will focus on strengthening partnerships with agencies across Canada, delivering tailored support, and contributing to the continued growth of the Expedia TAAP program in the Canadian market. Her commitment to collaboration and service excellence will be central to advancing TAAP’s mission and supporting the success of Canadian travel advisors.

Sue Haefner/Aurora Expeditions

Aurora Expeditions has appointed Sue Haefner as Director of Trade Marketing, North America, strengthening the company’s trade marketing and advisor engagement capabilities across the region.

She brings extensive experience in the travel and expedition cruise sector, with a strong background in travel advisor engagement, trade advertising, and strategic partnerships. Her expertise will support Aurora Expeditions’ continued growth in North America by deepening relationships with the travel trade and enhancing brand visibility in the market.

Most recently, Haefner served as Manager, Trade Support & Advertising at National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions, where she supported trade marketing initiatives and developed brand-aligned advertising and partnership programs grounded in exploration and responsible travel. In her new role, Haefner will focus on strengthening relationships with travel advisors, supporting education and engagement initiatives, and delivering targeted trade marketing programs to drive awareness and demand for Aurora Expeditions across North America.

Sean Russo/Virgin Voyages

Sean Russo has been promoted to Director of Sales, Canada for Virgin Voyages. Russo previously held the title of Sales Manager, Canada. The appointment comes as the cruise line plans to increase its presence and team in the Canadian market. 

Under his leadership the First Mate community in Canada has grown tremendously. Based on 2025 sales, more Canadians than ever have climbed into the adults-only cruise lines’ Top 100 of top performing First Mates, including the first Canadian in the Top 10.

Erin Oddleifson/VoX International

VoX International is enhancing its leadership team with the promotion of Erin Oddleifson to Vice President. Oddleifson was previously Director, overseeing administration, public relations, marketing, sales, operations and human resources.

In her new role, Oddleifson will drive the execution of the company’s vision, identify growth opportunities and manage operational procedures, while continuing to provide strategic leadership to all account teams with a continued focus on leading the marketing strategy for VoX’s clients. A seasoned travel industry professional with more than 30 years of experience, Oddleifson has been part of the VoX team since 2022.

Erin is a highly respected industry professional, having held senior management positions with various travel companies, including director of marketing for Transat Tours Canada, and previously with Canada 3000 and Signature Vacations.

Sébastien Lauzière & Wolf Paunic/Wingbuddy

Wingbuddy has appointed Wolf Paunic as Director of Business Development and Sébastien Lauzière as Manager of Business Development. Both will play key roles in supporting Canadian travel advisors and advancing the company’s rapidly growing B2B strategy. 

With more than 25 years of experience in guided vacations, river cruising, destination marketing, sales team development and distribution strategies, Paunic brings a strategic vision and deep understanding of travel advisor needs that will strengthen Wingbuddy’s presence in the market and elevate trade support. 

Meanwhile, Lauzière brings 20 years of experience in Sales, Business Development, and B2B Account Management — including 10 years in the travel market. His strong reputation across Canada, combined with his proven ability to grow brands, particularly in Quebec, will play a key role in strengthening Wingbuddy’s relationships with travel agencies.

Sandro Ragogna/Choice Hotels Canada

Choice Hotels Canada has appointed Sandro Ragogna as its new Chief Financial Officer.

Contributing to the company’s efforts to continue bolstering its growth following Choice Hotels International’s full acquisition of Choice Hotels Canada earlier this year, in this role, Ragogna will lead accounting, financial operations, franchise planning and agreements, contract administration, procurement and Environmental, Social, and Governance, IT/administration, and privacy and legal functions. Reporting to the CEO, Brian Leon, he will be based out of the Choice Hotels Canada head office in Mississauga.

Ragogna brings two decades of financial leadership across a range of ownership structures, including family-owned, private equity-backed and multinational companies. He previously held senior leadership roles at Hays, a workforce solutions and recruitment company, Multy Home, a global manufacturer of outdoor living products, and chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli.   He is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and holds a degree in Economics and Business from Wilfred Laurier University.   

Ryan McElroy/Worldia

Worldia has announced that industry expert Ryan McElroy has expanded his role with the company as strategic advisor with the mandate to accelerate its North American growth, online and offline distribution strategy, and market expansion. 

Working directly with Worldia’s founding team, McElroy will support the brand’s accelerated push into the United States and Canada while bringing new capabilities, new partnerships, and expanded adoption across travel agencies, travel advisors, consortia, and strategic supplier networks.

Steven Larkin/Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel has announced the appointment of Steven Larkin as SVP Global Sales & Partnerships, North America, effective January 1, 2026. Larkin’s role will focus on expanding the company’s North American footprint through new acquisitions and partnerships, while driving strategic growth across existing travel industry partnerships, external sales, affinity groups, and emerging commercial channels.
 
Larkin returns to Intrepid with a deep track record in the travel industry. He previously served as President of Intrepid Canada from 2008 to 2014, before spending more than a decade at Delta Air Lines, most recently as Director of Sales, Canada.
The appointment comes as Intrepid accelerates its ambitious plan to grow its North American business to $500 million by 2030.
 
Larkin’s appointment follows Intrepid’s recent successes, including the launch of its major partnership with REI and continued business growth across the United States and Canada.

Stuart Morcombe/Transat Distribution Canada (TDC)

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has announced the appointment of Stuart Morcombe as Manager, Business Development and Network Support.

In his new role, Morcombe will oversee the organization, planning, and growth of TDC’s franchisee and affiliate business across Canada (excluding Quebec). He will focus on contract management and member engagement, while ensuring brand compliance and operational excellence. He will also play a key role in helping members maximize preferred partner sales and agency profitability.

Morcombe brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the Canadian travel and customer experience sectors, with a strong background in sales, marketing, and strategic growth. He has held senior roles with leading organizations including T.Comm/Advantage Travel (later Thomas Cook, now part of TDC), Vasco and Gamma Travel and Xperigo, where he specialized in account management, contract negotiation, and marketing.

Morcombe also founded Not the Status Quo, a consultancy dedicated to innovative problem-solving for the travel industry. He is also an active contributor to the industry community, having served as past president of Skâl Toronto and as a volunteer leader with Scouts Canada.

Jordan Harris/TTC Tour Brands

Jordan Harris has joined TTC Tour Brands as the new Sales Manager for Alberta and Manitoba. 

Based in Calgary, Harris brings a blend of marketing experience at Allergan Aesthetics, frontline travel industry work with WestJet and concierge experience in Puerto Vallarta.

With extensive personal travel and a passion for storytelling, connection, and culture, Harris is eager to support advisors and build strong partnerships across the Prairies.

Canadian travel advisors can connect with Harris at [email protected] for sales support, training, product updates, and partnership opportunities.

Leah Shelly & Michelle Hudema/G Adventures

G Adventures has announced two new additions to its executive leadership team. Leah Shelly has been appointed Chief Community Officer, GTC (previously VP of People & Community Operations, G Adventures), while Michelle Hudema takes on the role of Chief Operating Officer, GTC (previously VP of Strategic Operations, G Adventures).

The appointments mark an exciting new chapter of growth and strategic evolution for G Adventures and its sister brands within the G Travel Community (GTC), including G Touring (Travelsphere and JustYou) and TruTravels. 

As CCO, Shelly will lead the people and culture strategy across the G Travel Community, while Hudema as COO will continue to oversee revenue management, central operations, business intelligence, business operations while also taking on responsibility for global tour operations and buying for all GTC brands. Both bring deep company knowledge, strong leadership, and a shared passion for community and G Adventures’ purpose of changing lives through travel. 

more Appointments


G-J0XFTER89E