Amex promotes Hargreaves – Etchells to leave
American Express Business Travel has appointed Paul Hargreaves to the newly created post of vp and general manager business travel UK and Ireland and Global Foreign Exchanger Services (GFES).
Mr Hargreaves takes over his new role in September.
He joined Amex in 1993 and has worked in various roles in the GFES, most recently as vp of the operation.
His new responsibilities will include his current position, combining it driving growth in the UK and Irish business travel markets.
He takes over from Stephen Etchells who is leaving his role as vp general manager business travel UK and Ireland to "pursue interests outside the company."
Mr Etchells joined Amex in 2004 after running his own consultancy Change Highway.
He was also previously managing director of GetThere.
MacOmish switches to HRS
John MacOmish, previously managing director of Hotelzon International in the UK, has joined rival online hotel booking agency Hotel Reservations Service (HRS).
Mr MacOmish joins German-owned HRS as its strategic projects director with a brief to develop HRS's services to the UK business travel market.
This includes developing partnerships with travel managements companies and business travel providers.
At Hotelzon, Mr MacOmish had merged the company's two UK acquisitions intone unit.
He has also previously worked for the UK online hotel booking agency BSI.
New Forte appointments in Geneva
Three new staff have been appointed at Rocco Forte's Le Richemond Hotel in Geneva which is due to re-open in September after a re-furbishment.
Leonardo Temperini joins as director of food and beverage, having held a similar position at Forte's Hotel de Russe in Rome.
Simone Pietri is the hotel's new front office manger, also joining from the Hotel de Russe while Delphine Daniel becomes executive housekeeper having previously worked in a similar position at the Hotel President Wilson also in Geneva.
Beetlestone to head new Hillgate division
Angela Beetlestone has been appointed divisional director of Hillgate Travel's re-launched and re-branded MICE operation, Hillgate Solutions.
Ms Beetlestone has worked for the independent travel management company, one of the largest in the UK, for 14 years and overseen the development of its office in the Thames Valley area.
The MICE operation will include venue finding, corporate hospitality, incentive management and conference and events services.
Waller joins new Meteor team
Steve Waller has been appointed director of sales and management for Meteor, one of the UK's parking management companies.
A second newcomer is Sarah Anglim who becomes director of Meteor's new meet and greet operation.
Mr Waller is an industry veteran and has previously worked for American Express, BTI (now HRG) and Purple Parking. Most recently he has worked for businesstaxis.
Ms Anglim joins after selling her own meet and greet company PAS to Meteor.
Topcik joins Lanyon
Tiffany Topcik, currently head of the hotel association HEDNA, has joined IT company Lanyon as a senior vp.
Ms Topcik, who has worked for ABC Corporate Services for the past 11 years, will drive sales of Lanyon's two products RFP Control Center and ETAbid.
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