ABTA public affairs chief to join Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook has recruited ABTA head of public affairs Stephen D’Alfonso to take on the new role of group head of public affairs.
Starting in July, he will report to group communications director Alice Macandrew.
D’Alfonso will be responsible for developing and implementing a government affairs strategy for Thomas Cook working across Westminster, Whitehall and Brussels.
Macandrew said: "I am delighted to have attracted someone of Stephen’s calibre to the team. He brings with him a deep understanding of the industry and its issues, giving him a great basis from which to start to re-establish Thomas Cook as a leading voice for travel and tourism."
D’Alfonso spent six years at ABTA where is said to have been instrumental in developing the body as a leading campaigning force in the industry.
He previously worked for the Westminster-based communications and events consultancy GovNet Communications and started his career in the office of Barry Sheerman MP.
A native Canadian, D’Alfonso graduated from the University of Toronto and has an MSc from the London School of Economics.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Suspension of all regional trains in Catalonia following two new rail accidents in Spain