The Sandown Travel Group has appointed Bruno Reis Neto as Managing Director of its Sandown Tours & Incentives operation, and Nicola Brescia as Managing Director of its Sandown Travel operations.
“Southern Africa remains a destination of choice for international Groups and FITs as well as a competitive choice, and we are encouraged by the focus on the tourism sector stemming from its potential as a significant source of job creation and skills development in the country,” says Neto.
Neto and Brescia are both the sons of the late Cosimo Brescia, who paved the way for the success of the Sandown Travel Group.
Sandown Travel is one of the original founder members and shareholders of the XL Travel Consortium and continues as a diversified organisation in the corporate travel, leisure travel, cruising, and online travel spaces.
SA Express has appointed Bongani Tshabalala as General Manager: Technical, Essery Hamilton as Division Manager: Safety, and Madikwe Mabotha as Divisional Manager: Communications, PR and CSI, as part of its recovery strategy.
Tshabalala joins SA Express from his position as HOD: Flight Technical and Maintenance Standards at SAA. He has more than 20 years of aviation experience, and is South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) certified in Aviation Internal Audit, among other things. He has previously worked for Comair and AirQuarius.
Hamilton was with the CAA and with Airports Company South Africa (Acsa).
Mabotha is the former Chief Director of Communications for the Department of Higher Education and Training, and has spent over two decades in media and communications, in both the public and private sectors.
Karlene Barkley has been appointed South African Country Manager for Etihad Airways, replacing John Friel in the role.
Barkley has over 25 years of experience in travel and aviation, and will be responsible for all aspects of business on a commercial level for Etihad.
Previously, Barkley held the position of Sales and Marketing Manager for Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands at Cathay Pacific.
The Oyster Box has appointed Justin Botha as Guest Relations Manager. Botha joined the Oyster Box team back in 2016 as Guest Relations Officer.
