InteleTravel Expands Management Team With New Hires, Promotions

InteleTravel has given several senior-level promotions and hired new staff, the host agency announced this week.

With the expansion of its management team, InteleTravel aims to build upon its success of the past year, which has included acquiring Hickory Global Partners and reaching some of its highest-ever sales figures since launching in 1991, the company reports. 

“Our record setting performance and growth does not happen by magic,” James Ferrara, president of InteleTravel, said in a statement. “It takes incredibly talented travel sellers supported by a talented and dedicated team of professionals and executives working round the clock, rethinking everything, managing with data and skill in the most strategic way. Our success demands constant advancement and augmentation of that team. We are truly fortunate to make these announcements.”

InteleTravel reports making $529 million in sales in 2022, which represents a 113% increase over sales in 2019 and 92% over 2021. The company says it is on track to make $1 billion in sales in 2023.

To support its growth, the host agency has made seven appointments to new high-level roles and welcomed two new professionals to leadership positions.

New Hires 
Traci Daniele, former comptroller for Ensemble Travel Group, was appointed as InteleTravel’s new comptroller. Daniele was comptroller at Ensemble for nearly 20 years, where she managed budgets and audits for three countries and more than $1 billion in sales. She will now head InteleTravel’s commissions department to optimize workflow, develop financial growth plans, and manage payment to the company’s travel advisor business owners.

Brian Holmberg, former director of sales for Norwegian Cruise Line, has joined InteleTravel as director of industry relations. He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience working for some of the industry’s top brands, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, and Signature Travel Network. Holmberg will manage InteleTravel’s portfolio of nearly 40 preferred suppliers across various sectors.

Promotions 
Tara Minson, former senior vice president of marketing and communications, has been promoted to executive vice president of InteleTravel. She joined the company in 2008 and has led major marketing initiatives and produced large-scale events for InteleTravel’s network of advisors. She aims to continue offering advisors quality tools to help them succeed.

Dave Spinelli, who has been with InteleTravel since 2017, was promoted to senior vice president of industry relations. Before joining InteleTravel, he had more than 30 years of industry experience, including serving as vice president of industry relations at Vacation.com, a top leader in North American travel bookings.

Dayna Jordan, InteleTravel’s director of operations since 2015, has been promoted to vice president of operations. She will manage the development of the company’s business solutions, including new AI initiatives. Before joining InteleTravel, she held positions at Air Travel Price Index (ATPI), McCord Travel Management, and The Vacation Store.

Jessica Sitomer, who joined InteleTravel in 2015, has been promoted to vice president of advisor education and success. She will develop and manage the agency’s training programs for advisors. As a former director, Sitomer hosted the company’s signature Dream Maker events and led the training at its annual conference, InteleTravel Quest.

Tricia Handley-Hughes, InteleTravel’s U.K. director since 2018, has been promoted to U.K. managing director of InteleTravel. She brought to the company 40 years of experience in travel and hospitality. Handley-Hughes will now oversee all of InteleTravel’s U.K. and Ireland business operations.

Courtney Tyler has been named director of events at InteleTravel. With more than 15 years of corporate event planning experience, including planning for national and international groups ranging in size from 200 to more than 18,000 attendees, she will manage the sourcing, planning, and executing InteleTravel’s 30-plus annual events. 

Sandra Jamali, who joined InteleTravel in 2019, has been promoted to director of industry relations. She brought more than 15 years of advertising and marketing experience, with expertise in account management, sales, and business development. Jamali aims to form long-lasting relationships with wellness and sustainability leaders in the travel industry.