For Immediate Release | Official News Wire for the Travel Industry

Where press releases are breaking news

IATA announces judges for Diversity and Inclusion Awards

by

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the members of the independent judging panel for the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards as:

  • Angela Gittens, Director General, Airports Council International
  • Gloria Guevara, President and CEO, World Travel and Tourism Council
  • Mark Pilling, Vice President Publishing and Conferences, FlightGlobal
  • Karen Walker, Editor-in-Chief, Air Transport World

“We are honored to have such a renowned and diverse panel of experts as judges for the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards. Our aim is to inspire greater diversity and inclusion across the aviation industry by recognizing role models and company initiatives that are driving critical change,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

IATA also announced the following important changes for nominations:

  • Eligibility: The Young High Flyer Award will be extended to nominations for women under the age of 40 (previously 30). This is to better accommodate the contributions made as nominees develop their careers and networks within the industry.
  • Deadline: The deadline for all nominations will be extended to 6 PM Central European Time, Monday, April 15. This will ensure ample time for any new nominations as a result of the category criteria adjustments.

Sponsored by Qatar Airways, the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards will honor excellence demonstrated in the categories of: (1) Inspirational Role Model, (2) Young High Flyer and (3) Diversity and Inclusion Team. The first awards will be presented at the conclusion of the 75th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit to be held in Seoul, South Korea (1-3 June 2019).

For more information on the Awards visit the webpage.

Travel News | eTurboNews

U.S. Travel Targets ad campaigns at top policymakers

by

The U.S. Travel Association continues to put a huge premium on creative engagement with political leaders to ensure key industry priorities are top of mind for lawmakers even when they are outside the halls of the Capitol or the White House.

The organization has launched a multifaceted campaign promoting the economic benefits of travel, beginning with a four-story billboard in the outfield at Nationals Park installed for Opening Day. Its message highlights the importance of international inbound travel to the United States, and it will be up for the duration of the 2019 season.

During 2019, U.S. Travel ads will be seen in other key platforms and locations. From June 3 into the presidential election year, a billboard advertisement on Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County, Florida will feature a variety of pro-travel messages. These ads are strategically located at the main access point from Palm Beach International Airport to Palm Beach Island—the location of Mar-a-Lago resort.

“We have a potent message—that travel is a key economic driver, jobs creator, and positive contributor to the U.S. trade balance—and we want leaders to be thinking about it even when they’re not at the office,” said U.S. Travel Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Policy Tori Barnes.

U.S. Travel also ran a digital billboard during the Honda Classic in Palm Beach County at the end of February, and a week-long “geo-fence” social media campaign earlier in March targeting the area around Mar-a-Lago at the time of one of the president’s many visits. These ads emphasized the economic importance of international inbound travel to the United States.

The association is examining future ad opportunities at key sites associated with the 2020 election cycle, including pivotal primary states and convention and debate sites.

This is not the first time U.S. Travel has deployed advertising in strategic locations to support its federal policy objectives and elevate awareness of travel’s contributions to U.S. jobs and the economy.

During the 2016 election season, U.S. Travel released analysis and statistics in key primary states about the economic impact of campaign travel in their states. U.S. Travel targeted attendees of both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions with economic impact statistics, advertisements at airports and on trains used to access the sites, and sponsored items at POLITICO Hubs.

The association also placed a campaign at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, timed for the final debate between presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

U.S. Travel ran ads in Reagan Washington National Airport immediately following the 2016 elections to tout the association’s pro-connectivity, pro-growth, pro-traveler policy priorities—with the express intention that they be seen by members of the new administration and Congress arriving in the nation’s capital.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Marriott International appoints new member to Board of Directors

by

The Board of Directors of Marriott International, Inc. said today it has appointed Margaret M. McCarthy, Executive Vice President at CVS Health Corporation, as an independent director of the company, effective March 19, 2019. Ms. McCarthy will also be included in the company’s slate of nominees for election at Marriott’s upcoming 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Ms. McCarthy’s appointment expands the membership of the Board to 14, 11 of whom are independent. She will also serve on the company’s Audit Committee.

“Meg brings a wealth of leadership experience to our Board from her over 30-year career in business and her military service,” said Larry Kellner, Marriott International’s Lead Director. “We were drawn to Meg’s experience with consumer-facing companies undergoing transformational change as well as her knowledge of privacy and cybersecurity. Marriott has a strong and independent Board of Directors that provides critical guidance and advice to management. We are also committed to building a Board that has diverse perspectives and backgrounds reflecting the diversity of our guests, associates and owners. We are confident that Meg will be a valuable addition to the Marriott Board.”

As Executive Vice President at CVS Health, Ms. McCarthy is a leader in the company’s technology transition following its acquisition of Aetna. As previously announced, Ms. McCarthy is slated to depart CVS Health in May. She brings substantial experience in data management and security.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Meg to our Board,” said Arne Sorenson, Marriott International President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her experience and expertise promise to make Meg a terrific addition to the Marriott Board. I look forward to her insights and leadership as we work to build Marriott’s global hospitality brand.”

Ms. McCarthy joined CVS Health through its acquisition of Aetna Inc. in 2018, where she had been Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology since 2010. At Aetna, she also served as the company’s Chief Information Officer and Head of Business Solutions Delivery. Prior to joining Aetna in 2003, she was a senior Information and Technology executive at Cigna Corp., Catholic Health Initiatives and Franciscan Health System, and a Partner at Ernst & Young.

Ms. McCarthy currently serves on the Board of Directors of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and First American Financial Corporation. She also serves on various advisory boards and councils, including the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, MIT Center for Information Systems Research and the Board of Trustees of Providence College.

Ms. McCarthy holds a bachelor’s degree from Providence College and a master’s degree in public health, hospital administration from Yale University. She served in the U.S. Navy Medical Services Corps as a Lieutenant at Bethesda Naval Hospital and in the U.S. Navy Reserves as a Lieutenant Commander.

Marriott’s Board of Directors engaged Russell Reynolds Associates to assist in identifying and evaluating potential nominees.

With the addition of Ms. McCarthy, the 14 members of Marriott’s Board of Directors are as follows:
•J.W. Marriott, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, Marriott International, Inc.
•Mary K. Bush, President, Bush International, LLC and Former Presidential Appointee as the U.S. Government’s representative on the IMF Board
•Bruce W. Duncan, Chairman of the Board and Former President and Chief Executive Officer, First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. and Former Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
•Deborah Marriott Harrison, Global Officer, Marriott Culture and Business Councils, Marriott International, Inc.
•Frederick A. Henderson, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SunCoke Energy, Inc.
•Eric Hippeau, Managing Partner, Lerer Hippeau
•Lawrence W. Kellner, President, Emerald Creek, Group, LLC, Marriott International’s Lead Director
•Debra L. Lee, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BET Networks
•Aylwin B. Lewis, Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Potbelly Corporation
•Margaret M. McCarthy, Executive Vice President, CVS Health Corporation
•George Muñoz, Principal, Muñoz Investment Banking Group, LLC
•Steven S. Reinemund, Former Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, Inc. and Former Dean of Business, Wake Forest University
•Susan C. Schwab, Professor, University of Maryland and Former U.S. Trade Representative
•Arne M. Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International, Inc.

Marriott’s Board will nominate these 14 directors as its recommended slate at the company’s upcoming Annual Meeting.

Travel News | eTurboNews

26th annual World Travel Awards opens for submissions

by

World Travel Awards

World Travel Awards (WTA) is pleased to announce its annual “call for entries” for inclusion in the most prestigious awards and recognition initiative in travel and tourism.

Each country’s very best brands and products are now invited to submit their applications to participate and stand a chance to win the ultimate industry accolade.

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

WTA’s annual quest is to identify and reward travel and hospitality excellence – those organisations that are driving the industry to new heights by creating greater and more innovative customer experiences.

Nominees this year range from a broad spectrum of categories covering Aviation, Tourist Attractions, Car Hire, Cruise, Destinations, Hotels & Resorts, Meetings & Events, Travel Agencies, Tour Operators and Travel Technology – to name but a few.

Graham Cooke, Founder, WTA, said: “We have been overwhelmed with the tremendous early response to industry entries, which have grown at a phenomenal rate in recent years.

“The worldwide interest shown in our Grand Tour 2019 is already significantly higher than this stage last year and serves to illustrate the importance of winning at the WTA when seeking to differentiate a brand in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

“We are seeing more companies than ever spearheading their global marketing campaigns with their award victories and we are humbled by reports of how triumph at the WTA has helped to bolster growth and revenues,” he added.

Celebrating its 26th anniversary in 2019, WTA is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade.

In the quest to identify and reward excellence, the organisation invites those brands that are pushing the boundaries of industry excellence to participate in the annual programme. Entry forms can be submitted here.