Vacation.com has named John Lovell, CTC, as the Vice President of Industry Relations.  In this position, Lovell will be responsible for managing and overseeing preferred supplier negotiations as well as expanding marketing opportunities.

“John possesses extensive supplier experience having worked with Hertz, Alamo and National as well as Mark Travel and Adventure Vacations,” said Steve Tracas, president and CEO, Vacation.com.  “John is well known within the travel industry and I have no doubt he will excel in this new position.”

The appointment of Lovell follows the announcement that Marty Braunstein, a 40-year travel industry veteran and Senior Vice President of Industry Relations at Vacation.com for the past seven years, is leaving the company to explore new challenges, both inside and outside the travel industry.  Lovell and Braunstein have been working together for the past several months to transition responsibilities and to secure a new team to work under Lovell’s direction.

The supplier relations management team now consists of Lovell with the support of Christine James, Director of Industry Relations and a new contract administrator, Sheila Stokes-Langford.

Lovell joined the Vacation.com team in December 2002 as Director of Business Development and was promoted to Vice President of Sales for North America in May 2003 where he was accountable for sales responsibilities for the U.S. and Canada.

Prior to Vacation.com, Lovell held the position of Director of Travel Industry Sales at ANC Rental Corporation, where he was responsible for all car rental sales activity for travel agency, tour operator, travel association and government channels.

Christine James joined Vacation.com seven years ago as Director of National Sales for Canada.  In her new role, James is responsible for negotiating with U.S. suppliers in addition to those in Canada.

Prior to joining Vacation.com, Stokes-Langford spent 20 years with US Airways.  Her most recent position was Manager, Sales & Customer Support.

In June 2006, Vacation.com announced that Jared Braunstein was promoted to Vice President of Sales for North America for Vacation.com (Lovell’s prior position), where his responsibilities include overseeing Vacation.com’s field sales force of Business Development Managers.

“We are extremely fortunate to have the quality of management within our existing ranks to transition John into his new role as Vice President of Supplier Relations, while promoting Jared to Vice President of Sales,” Tracas said.  “With Christine and Shelia’s addition to the supplier relations department, we’ve reinforced our dedication to this important segment of our business.”
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