Tag Archives: CEO

John Mangelaars, currently Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO, joins the Board of Directors immediately and will succeed as Chief Executive Officer on 1 April 2026. Travelport announced that Greg Webb has notified the Board of Directors that he has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer, effective 31 March 2026. He will continue as part of the Board of Directors. Mangelaars joined Travelport in September of this year with a remit to deliver the scale, reliability, and innovation that both agencies and suppliers need to thrive in an increasingly complex and demanding marketplace. He is a distinguished executive with over 30 years of leadership experience spanning global technology and travel industries across both B2B and B2C sectors. He has deep industry knowledge and a proven track record in scaling e-commerce operations. Most recently before joining Travelport, John served as CEO at Skyscanner, a global travel marketplace focused on META search, where he led the company through Covid to a strong recovery into the genAI era. Prior to that, he was CEO at Travix International, a leading global online travel agency, where he drove revenue growth and expansion across multiple global markets and established the company as one of the first OTAs to implement NDC.  

Red Sea Global (RSG) announced the launch of the first ever direct flight from Europe to Red Sea International Airport (RSI) conducted by beOnd, the world’s first premium leisure airline. The new route establishes a direct link between Europe and The Red Sea and AMAALA, offering European travellers seamless access to the world’s most exciting new luxury and regenerative tourism destinations. Guests will enjoy beOnd’s signature premium experience and RSI’s world-class design, meticulously shaped by innovation and a deep respect for the natural surroundings. The launch was celebrated with a special signing ceremony at TOURISE Global Tourism Summit in Riyadh, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the strategic partners driving this new era of luxury travel. “The launch of this direct route from Milan marks a defining moment for Red Sea Global and our destinations. It not only strengthens our connection with Europe, but also reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering extraordinary, luxury experiences. Together with our partners at beOnd, we are opening a new gateway to the Saudi Red Sea coast, ushering in the next chapter of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 journey,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. RSI, operated by daa International, is the gateway to The Red Sea and AMAALA destinations, developed with sustainability at its core. Developed by RSG, the airport and destinations are the cornerstone of the Kingdom’s ambition to attract 150 million visitors by 2030 (updated from an original target of 100M). They are also supporting the Kingdom’s vision to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP, which has already shot from 3% to 7% since the launch of Vision 2030. Tero Taskila, CEO and Chairman of beOnd, stated: “We’re proud to be the first airline …

Almosafer has expanded its strategic partnership with VisitBritain to further promote Britain as a top destination for Saudi travellers. The partnership, formalized during the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, reinforces the ongoing collaboration between the two entities, aligning with growing demand and stronger travel links between Saudi Arabia and Britain. VisitBritain’s research shows strong interest among GCC travellers in exploring destinations beyond London, from Britain’s idyllic coast and countryside to its vibrant cities, cultural and sporting events, royal heritage, film and TV locations, and luxury experiences. This partnership with Almosafer is set to showcase the nations and regions of Britain and to develop a new portfolio of high-value packages featuring signature experiences found only in Great Britain. Oxford Economics data shows that Britain remains one of the top 10 destinations for Saudi travellers and continues to see robust year-round demand. Through this partnership, Almosafer will highlight the most exciting and trending destinations across Britain with bespoke offers, targeted campaigns, and travel experiences designed to showcase the country’s culture, heritage, and modern appeal to Saudi audiences. Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer, said: “Our continued collaboration with VisitBritain underscores our shared commitment to enriching travel experiences for Saudi travellers. The United Kingdom remains a timeless favourite, offering a unique blend of heritage, diversity, and contemporary experiences. Together with VisitBritain, we look forward to deepening engagement with Saudi travellers and showcasing the best of Britain through our platforms and tailored offerings.” Gary Robson, VisitBritain Director for Europe, Middle East & India, said: “We’re delighted to strengthen our partnership with Almosafer to inspire more visitors from Saudi Arabia to choose Britain. Saudi travellers are among our highest-spending international visitors, and this collaboration is a …