Avanti Destinations Appoints Three Sales Directors
by Briana Bonfiglio
Avanti's new sales force: Michel Madjerich, Christina De Falco, and Paula Ruidiaz
Avanti Destinations, a leading wholesale tour operator, has slightly restructured its sales department, appointing three professionals to sales director positions.
The company, which sells exclusively through travel advisors, has made the following changes to its team: Michel Madjerich, formerly Southeast Regional Sales Director, is now Director of National Accounts; Christina De Falco is Northeast Regional Sales Director; and Paula Ruidiaz is Southeast Regional Sales Director. All positions report to Gina Bang, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer.
“We have restructured the sales force to provide support for our travel advisor partners on the executive, national, regional, and individual advisor level,” Bang said. “As National Accounts Director, Michel works with agency owners to develop strategies on how to grow their business with Avanti. We have reduced territory sizes, in order to give our regional sales directors more face-to-face time with their accounts.”
Madjerich joined Avanti in 2022 and has more than 20 years of experience in business development for tour and cruise operators such as Rosenbluth Vacations, MLT (Delta and United) Vacations, Celebrity & Azamara Cruises, and more. Madjerich, based in Tampa, works alongside Avanti’s Senior Vice President of Industry Relations, John Hanratty, to strengthen partnerships with consortia and host agencies.
De Falco, based in Rhode Island, has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years in many roles, including as a travel advisor at one time. She’s held positions at Star Clippers, Insight Vacations, Brian Moor/Europe Express, Superclubs Resorts, and Cruise Brothers.
Ruidiaz, based in Miami, has 20 years of travel industry experience, first as the sales and marketing manager for COCHA Travel, Chile’s largest inbound tourism company. She also worked at Avanti for five years and is now returning to a sales role there.
Avanti’s new sales team can be reached at mmadjerich@avantidestinations.com, cdefalco@avantidestinations.com, and pruidiaz@avantidestinations.com.
