Traveltek expands North America team to meet strong industry demand for advanced tours & cruise technology

Traveltek Group Ltd has expanded its team in North America, bringing on board four business development managers to support its ambitious expansion strategy in the world’s largest travel market.

Kevin Walker, Ivonne Turcios and Yenedi Perez will be based at the travel technology firm’s US headquarters in Miami and Clarice Bongolan will work out of Los Angeles, ensuring the company is well positioned to meet robust industry demand for advanced travel technology.

All four BDMs, who boast extensive cruise and leisure travel sales experience, have been hand-picked by the company’s Senior Vice President Sales, Francis Riley – a well-known cruise sector identity who Traveltek recently appointed to spearhead its business development drive in North and South America.

Traveltek’s new US-based dream team will support the needs of new and existing clients in a fiercely-competitive and rapidly-expanding travel market, offering agents, wholesalers and tour operators sophisticated solutions, including its award-winning dynamic packaging tools, that help them boost sales, drive efficiencies and reach their full potential.

"We have witnessed strong industry demand for technology that improves speed to market, supports a multi-channel approach to business and increases reach and distribution at a time when the Tours and the Cruise sectors are demonstrating exponential growth potential," explained Riley.

"To capitalise on this opportunity, we have bolstered our team with four highly-experienced sales professionals, all of whom I am confident will play a key role in cementing Traveltek’s position as a market leader. Kevin, Ivonne, Yenedi and Clarice join the Americas business at a very exciting time for Traveltek and the travel industry and I wish them every success."

Kevin Walker is not new to Traveltek having joined the company in 2013 as Project Manager, based at its global headquarters in the UK. With a strong track record in brand design, he was quickly recognised for his ability to execute complex projects and was promoted to Business Development Analyst in 2016, based in North America where for the past two years, he has worked with large travel agencies, consortia, wholesalers and cruise specialists to understand their business practices and develop software solutions that meet their requirements.

Joining him at the Miami HQ are experienced industry professionals Ivonne Turcios and Yenedi Perez. Ivonne has spent the last 22 years working for travel organisations based in South Florida, most recently in sales and business development roles with Amadeus. An accomplished travel advisor who speaks fluent English and Spanish, she is well placed to grow Traveltek’s Americas’ business.

A cruise industry expert of 20 years, Yenedi Perez has worked in sales and business development roles for some of the sector’s biggest names including Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line. She joins Traveltek from NCL where her most recent role saw her grow the company’s business across the southern states.

Avid traveller Clarice Bongolan is an adept sales executive who has worked for major travel media titles including Lonely Planet and proven her industry knowledge as a luxury travel advisor at Kontiki Tours in Los Angeles. Her vast knowledge of the B2B and B2C markets and tour operator background set her in good stead as she takes on her BDM role.

Under Riley’s expert guidance, Kevin, Ivonne, Yenedi and Clarice will promote Traveltek’s dynamic packaging and cruise solutions – web-based technology that enables agencies and tour operators to package and sell complex itineraries that include flights, hotels, tours, transfers, car rental, cruises, attractions tickets and more.

"Traveltek’s timing could not be better as companies across the Americas look to leverage increased cruise line capacity, attract more new-to-cruise clients and grow their tours business to meet traveller demand," said Riley.

"Our dynamic packaging tools put clients ahead of the competition, enabling them to differentiate their product by curating tailormade offers and packages. Imagine booking cruise, flights, hotels, transfers, tours and other ancillary products in just a few clicks?"

Traveltek’s focus on growing business across North and South America follows a busy 12 months of expansion, which has seen the company grow its global footprint with new regional offices established in the Middle East (Dubai) and Asia (Hong Kong and Singapore).

The company is targeting global markets where travel demand is booming, particularly for cruise holiday options, providing agents and bookers with industry-leading technology to leverage this growth.

For more information, visit www.traveltek.com