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Gai Tyrrell, who resigned on Friday as Hawaiian Airlines regional director for Australia and New Zealand, has not kept the industry waiting long to reveal her new Sydney-based role – as Australasian chief of a bigger-than-big worldwide tour operator.

Tyrrell is to become managing director of the Australasia office of the Globus family of brands, commencing mid-August. She brings to the role “a deep appreciation for the importance of our travel agency partners” the group’s president noted yesterday.

Tyrrell’s predecessor at Globus was Stewart Williams, a well-known industry figure who held the position for years before resigning in February “for personal reasons”.

As Williams departed, Globus family of brands president and chief executive, Scott Nisbet, announced that the group had begun “an extensive search for a qualified, passionate and professional leader to guide our Australasia team”.

Globus has now found that leader.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gai Tyrrell to the Globus family of brands, to lead our Australasia team,” Nisbet said yesterday.

“She brings with her an incredible breadth of experience and a deep appreciation for the importance of our travel agency partners, which she rightly views as a top priority.

“Peter Douglas, director of sales – Australia and Troy Ackerman, general manager – New Zealand have done a great job leading their respective offices as we conducted our search for the perfect addition to our Australasia business,” Nisbet said.

“We look forward to what the future holds for this extraordinary team of leaders.”

In an issued statement, Douglas and Ackerman each welcomed Tyrrell to her new role.

Gai Tyrrell, new managing director of the Australasia office of the Globus family of brands

Tyrrell said she was delighted to be joining the Globus family, adding “I very much look forward to sharing my expertise with the team, as we build on past achievements and shape an even stronger future for the Australasia business.

“I have long been an admirer of the Globus family of brands’ culture, inspiring customer service philosophy and focus on partnership based success.  It’s an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to lead the business in our region to exciting growth ahead.”

A dynamic executive with extensive travel industry experience across sales, online marketing and distribution, Tyrrell most recently held the positions of regional director for Australia and New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines and vice president and chief executive, Sabre Pacific.

The Globus family of brands traces its history to 1928, when Antonio Mantegazza started using a rowboat to transport commercial goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland.

The operation now encompasses coach tour companies, Globus and Cosmos; river cruise operator, Avalon Waterways; and independent touring brand, Monograms. Travel experiences across the portfolio of brands are offered throughout Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa.

As Wikipedia succinctly puts it: “The Globus family of brands now consists of more than 30 tourism and aviation businesses, serviced by more than 5000 staff. The companies’ escorted and independent vacations offer nearly 10,000 departures and over 400 different itineraries, covering more than 65 countries on six continents. Combined, the travel brands carry nearly 500,000 passengers per year, making the Globus the largest tour operator worldwide.”

The Swiss-founded operation has since expanded, saying it currently operates 480 vacations in 77 countries on six continents with “50 offices around the world equipped to make your vacation unforgettable”.

Written by Peter Needham