Business Travel Executive, September 2018

People Business Travel Executive SEPTEMBER 2018 7 United Airlines has named Jake Cefolia as senior vice president worldwide sales Cefolia has been with United since 2007 most recently serving as vice president sales for the Americas International Airlines Group has appointed Vincent Hodder as CEO of Level its low cost airline brand launched in June 2017 He has over 25 years of experience working with airlines including low cost carriers such as Jetstar in Australia and Asia and VivaAerobus in México Most recently he worked as chief strategy officer at Flybe a UK regional airline Hyatt Hotels Corporation has named Julia Vander Ploeg as senior vice president global head of digital responsible for setting digital strategy Most recently Vander Ploeg served as vice president of digital and business transformation for Volvo Prior to that she helped McDonalds implement its first strategic internal digital function she also previously held roles at Ticketmaster United Airlines and the Chicago Tribune Radisson Hotel Group has appointed Kristen Richter as vice president of revenue optimization of the Americas Richter most recently spent 11 years leading the global revenue management department for Wyndham Hotels Resorts She has also held positions at Hilton and Avis Budget Group The group has also announced the appointment of Frederic Feijs as regional director for North Africa and Egypt Feijs rejoins Radisson Hotel Group where he started his career in the hospitality industry in 1998 Since then he has held positions across multiple countries and continents Etihad Aviation Group has announced that Tony Douglas CEO of Etihad Aviation Group will assume responsibility for Etihad Airways United Airlines has launched United Corporate Preferred a program designed to offer the carriers most loyal business customers escalating benefits at three levels United Corporate Preferred United Corporate Preferred Plus and United Corporate Preferred Elite Eligibility is determined by a corporations contract status revenue contribution and loyalty with United Benefits include upgrades preferred standby protection during travel interruptions as well as seat protection in the event of an aircraft swap discounts and promotions Those in the higher tiers will get preferred boarding additional travel waiver flexibility and preferred seating In addition the carrier has launched a new corporate discount program for middlemarket companies called United Propel The program offers five discount levels ranging from 2 percent to 6 percent and customers may use United Jetstream the carriers business portal to manage their United relationship American Airlines has announced changes that are coming to Basic Economy fares Beginning Sept 5 the fare includes both a personal item and a carry on bag According to the airline the move will make the fares more competitive in the industry Doug Parker CEO said on an earnings conference call that the change is designed to allow the airline to become more competitive He said the carrier had put the product out with a slightly different model than others had done in the past adding We think the right thing to do is to get in line with the competition Jake Cefolia Julia Vander Ploeg United Launches New Corporate Loyalty Programs American Airlines Changes Basic Economy Fare Rules