Former Gold Medal chief executive given new role at dnata
Gold Medal former chief executive Steve Barrass has been given a new senior role at the operator’s parent company dnata Travel.
Barrass becomes senior vice president, new ventures (Europe) for the Dubai-based business, which also owns Travel 2.
He was chief executive of Gold Medal when it was bought by dnata. Barrass was also previously managing director – Direct Holidays at Thomas Cook Group and prior to that he worked for XL Travel Group.
His new appointment is part of a series of changes announced following the defection in June of five senior Travel 2/Gold Medal directors, including managing director Andy Freeth, to rival operator If Only.
Geoff Wood has been appointed senior vice president – corporate development in charge of supplier relations; Steve Allen, senior vice president B2B Middle East and India, will take responsibility for the G Travel International joint venture and Andy Washington, chief executive B2C Europe, will take responsibility for business intelligence (information).
The appointments come into effect on October 2.
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports