Direct Travel is making changes to its Leisure division to provide more focused support for travel advisors, grow sales and establish a strong data foundation for next-generation technology.
The reorganization, which came into effect on 01OCT, introduces a simplified model to focus on aligning teams to advisor needs rather than geography. Joelle Goldman, VP Host Services and Luxury Hotel Program, will continue to lead the Host Services division, which aims to provide dedicated resources for independent advisors.
Julie Skinner, SVP Leisure Sales, will oversee Direct Travel’s network of employee advisors across North America. Her team will deliver sales support, training, and client engagement strategies to help advisors strengthen relationships.
Vivienne Kouba, SVP Leisure Operations, will lead a consolidated Operations team supporting both Retail and Host Services advisors throughout North America. The team is focused on streamlining workflows, standardizing service levels, and improving turnaround times.
Rene Schneeberger, SVP Groups & Revenue Optimization, will work closely with Gerard Bellino, President, Leisure Travel to expand the leisure organization based on the recent acquisition of ATPI by Direct Travel and optimize supplier contracts. He will also continue to lead the North American Groups team, expanding this critical area by sharing best practices across Direct Travel’s network of more than 900 advisors to help diversify and grow their sales mix.
As part of the restructuring, Rebecca Adams has been appointed VP, Data Strategy & Insights, Leisure Travel. She is focused on unifying data sources, defining enterprise standards and delivering analytics.
“I’m thrilled to take on this new opportunity and help solidify our strategy for what is now truly a global organization,” said Adams. “By bringing clarity and consistency to our data, we’re laying the foundation for technology that empowers advisors in their everyday business and helps them achieve even greater success.”
In addition, Stephen Smith has been named EVP, Leisure Travel, and is taking on an expanded role that includes overseeing Partnerships, Strategy & Marketing and driving leisure technology innovation. “This integration will bring tighter collaboration, smarter tools, and innovative programs designed to help advisors succeed across every channel,” said Smith.
“This realignment positions Direct Travel to meet the demands of an ever-changing marketplace,” said Bellino, “By centering our structure on advisor success—supported by data, technology, and world-class partnerships—we’re equipping our teams to move faster, personalize service at scale, and capture growth opportunities across every leisure segment.”
What the Changes Mean for Advisors:
- Sales-Aligned Support: Streamlined teams with clear ownership and faster response times.
- Data Strategy & Insights: A single source for pipeline, productivity, and client lifecycle metrics—fueling smarter decisions and higher conversion.
- Technology Enablement: A data foundation that accelerates rollout of new booking, marketing, and commission tools—reducing admin and increasing selling time.
These changes reflect Direct Travel’s long-term commitment to elevating advisor success through precision, efficiency, and partnership.
