New job for former Thomas Cook managing director
Danny Talbot, a former Thomas Cook managing director, has joined AKA Sports & Events, one of the largest suppliers of accommodation to sports tour operators.
Talbot, who was previously MD of Thomas Cook Sport, left the tour operator in October 2012 to join sponsorship activation agency Kempster as managing director.
He will now head both AKA and its sports destination management division TEAM-DM, which has offices in London as well as Rio, Moscow, Lisbon, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
AKA was recently bought by South Africa-based Tourvest, the largest tourism group in the southern hemisphere.
Talbot’s appointment follows its announcement that it plans to expand in the UK and European sports travel market.
AKA will be integrated with TEAM-DM and AKA founder Alan Kotz will move to the role of executive chairman.
Talbot said: "I am thrilled to be joining the Tourvest Group during this very exciting period of growth.
AKA & TEAM-DM are both leaders in their field providing agencies, brands, tour operators and clients with services and sports packages across the world at all of the major sporting events.
"We have ambitious plans to increase our foothold in these markets and cement our place as one of the largest suppliers of travel services to the sport industry".
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
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