INTRAVEL Launched With Aquisition Of Hickory
‘INTRAVEL’ LAUNCHED WITH ACQUISITION OF HICKORY & VETERAN TALENT
Signals Multi-Channel Distribution Vision
New York, NY – May 18, 2011: The Traina Companies, the innovative hospitality and commercial real estate investment group, has announced the consolidation of its travel interests under a new strategic business unit, INTRAVEL, and the appointment of an expanded management team of industry executives. As the first phase in a rapid growth plan for 2011, INTRAVEL this week announced the acquisition of the assets of Hickory Travel Systems Inc. of Elmwood Park, NJ, the 37-year-old consortium of business travel agencies (2010: 1,300 agencies; $2 Billion travel sales), and the creation of a new wholly owned subsidiary Hickory Global Partners.
Building on the heritage of the Hickory brand and its widely used negotiated rate programs for hotels, airlines and car rentals, Hickory Global Partners is being launched as a strategic advantage provider for business travel sellers. The new Hickory is leveraging INTRAVEL’s proficiencies in technology, digital marketing, innovative agent support and education, preferred supplier focus, and global strategic partnerships. Ted Cromwell, former Senior Vice President of BCD Travel and architect of the BCD affiliate program, will lead a new Hickory team as Executive Vice President, Agency Partners. Tiffany Topcik, former Vice President of Hotel & Supplier Relations at ABC Corporate Services, and a former President of Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA), is now Senior Vice President of Hotel Partners at the new Hickory. Longtime Hickory Travel Systems Chairman L. William Chiles has retired and has no involvement in Hickory Global Partners.
Under the leadership of Joseph R. Traina, Chairman, and James R. Ferrara, Executive Vice President and 20 year Traina travel officer, a growing INTRAVEL executive team is pursuing a bold new multi-channel distribution vision across corporate, leisure and online markets. This week, INTRAVEL appointed former Kayak executive Brian Harniman as Senior Vice President Digital Marketing & Product Development. At Kayak, Harniman served as Executive Vice President Marketing and Distribution. Earlier he was a member of the founding team at Priceline.com and in his nine years there directed online marketing efforts and purchased the website Lowestfare.com.
Harniman’s appointment follows that of Thomas Sparico, another former Priceline.com executive and a technology strategist, announced earlier this year as InteleTravel.com Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, and now serving in a parallel role at the parent INTRAVEL. Previously he was founder and CEO of Internet Travel Enterprises (ITE), a partner with Amadeus North America and Tzell Travel Group, and began his career at intellectual property …..
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