Executive appointments 21-25 September

London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square has appointed Joe Carter director of Event Operations. 

Joe brings extensive meetings and event operational knowledge to his new role with 12 years’ experience in the sector. Throughout his 15-year hospitality career, Joe has worked at London Marriott Hotel County Hall, Marriott Waltham Abbey, Thistle St. Albans and Sopwell House.

Speaking about his new role, Carter said: “London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square is one of London’s key banqueting and conference events venues, offering impeccable services and facilities. It is a real honor to join the team. Meetings Imagined is an exciting online tool, which enables organisers to create imaginative experiences, and that I’m looking forward to bringing clients’ ideas to life.”

London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2015 and the hotel boasts the largest pillar free ballroom in the capital.

Skyline Serviced Apartments has appointed business travel industry specialist Lorna Keen to the position of director of Sales, EMEA. 

Formerly of BridgeStreet, Lorna has 18 years of experience and knowledge of the temporary accommodation requirements of global, national, regional and local corporations.

As the founding chair of the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP), the leading association representing the serviced apartment industry in the UK, she was instrumental in the team that developed a quality-rating scheme for the industry with visit Britain.

Commenting on her new role, Lorna said: “I’m excited to join the Skyline brand and to be a part of such a cosmopolitan, young, bright and vibrant team. Skyline is flexible, forward-thinking and offers a consistently excellent product and world-class exclusive service and I am proud to be a part of their vision.”

Travel technology provider ClickTripz has named Richard Barajas general manager of Hospitality Solutions.

Barajas will lead business development, product development and day-to-day operations for the new ClickTripz Hospitality Solutions division.

Barajas has 20 years’ experience spanning multiple travel sectors including air, hotel, vacation rentals, GDSs, OTAs and corporate booking tools. Building a diverse career working for marquee companies such as American Airlines, TravelClick and Sabre, Barajas also was president of LeisureLink, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 company.

Cheapflights has confirmed the appointment of Andrew Shelton as managing director and the promotion of Sarah Hanan to commercial director.

Shelton will report to Hugo Burge, CEO of parent company, Momondo Group, and continue to oversee the Cheapflights marketing function.

Commenting on the appointment, Burge said: “Since he joined our team, Andrew has helped us to position Cheapflights for its next period of growth. He brings with him a terrific combination of deep marketing expertise, commercial acumen, leadership ability and vision that we’re looking for.”

Shelton added: “I’m extremely excited to be leading the team at Cheapflights. There is massive potential in this business in the UK and across our overseas markets, and the last year has seen us establish some firm but exciting foundations on which to build.”

Hanan, who has been with Cheapflights for 12 years, will take the lead on developing and implementing strategies to significantly grow global revenue. Her role will include the ongoing expansion of the Cheapflights deals publishing business, the company’s growing presence in the US market and working closely with the Momondo meta sales team.