HODGE PODGE: Shifts, Shakeups and Occasional Shaftings in the Tour and Travel Industry

Kevin Murphy, who earlier this year left his position as general manager of Sports Leisure Vacations in Sacramento, California and opened the doors to his own company—Open Roads Tour & Travel Solutions—which will be focused on custom group and receptive tours. In addition to offering product in the western U.S. and Canada, Murphy, who served as president of Travel Alliance Partners (TAP) from 2014- 2017, and his company will also provide speaking services, consultation, and planning and operational support for destination marketing organizations, suppliers, and tour operators.

Matt Hodgson, who joined DER Touristik (UK) earlier this year, has been tapped to head up Meraki Travel, a new tailor-made DER brand for long-haul holidays. The company will offer complex, long-haul trips that customers will be able to build themselves online within an existing framework. DER Touristik said it is targeting consumers who weren’t already customers of Kuoni, which it acquired in 2015, or its other specialist brands Carrier, Kirker, CV Villas and Voyage Jules Verne. Hodgson previously worked for Trailfinders, Travel Nation and the British Exploration Society in commercial, sales and strategic development roles

After 20 years with the company, Gail Dunwoodie is leaving Attraction World, which sells entertainment and attractions tickets (and more). Dunwoodie, who was also directed public relations activity for Attraction World, plans to set up her own business in the travel industry. Said Dunwoodie: “This company has been completely amazing to me over the past 20 years, taking me to places I would only have dreamt of and I owe it everything.”

After a two-year hiatus during which she managed projects for a number of travel companies, Christine Leader is back with New Sun International Travel as sales and marketing director, just as the operator is expanding operations. New Sun will be opening 20 branch offices in China—currently it has five offices in China and one in Boston, as well as its Los Angeles office. You can reach her at christin@newsunus.com.

Mark Bloxham has stepped down from his post as managing director of Wendy Wu Tours and has left the company. While the search for a new MD takes place, the company’s founder, Wendy Wu will step in as interim MD, supported by the senior leadership team. Bloxham had been with the company for a little more than a year. Wu said: “Mark was appointed to grow the company’s digital business, a remit that has now been completed. “We all think very highly of Mark and we thank him for his contribution to Wendy Wu Tours. We wish him well for his future career.” Prior to joining Wendy Wu Tours, Bloxham had served in senior managing positions for several major travel and marketing companies.

UK tour operator APT has appointed former Kuoni branch manager Carrie Grant as business development manager for the north of England and Scotland. Grant joins the company with 10 years of travel industry experience, with her last four years spent as branch manager at a Kuoni agency. During her time with Kuoni, Grant was a founding member of Kuoni’s LGBT Expert program. Grant will report into APT national sales manager Jessica Shelton-Agar.