Travelport Creates Exec Team Nicknamed the ‘Rainmakers’ to Further Evolve its GDS Offering in Asia

On Monday, Travelport, formerly known as Cendant Travel Distribution Systems, unveiled the formation of an elite team of experienced travel professionals, nicknamed the ‘Rainmakers’. Their role is to help augment Travelport’s position in the travel industry in Asia, by creating significant leverage for the customer through the company’s GDS platform, Galileo by Travelport, and powerful synergies with other relevant Travelport business units and products.

Travelport’s ‘Rainmakers’ team is headed by Market Development Director in Asia, Marco Gorin, who said, “We sought professionals from within and outside Travelport who demonstrated the skill, ability and finesse to cut through the bureaucracy, cross the traditional lines of responsibility and see a larger, more integrated GDS picture.”

He went on to say that “The reason for calling the team the ‘Rainmakers’ was due to the fact that in olden days, a rainmaker was somebody who could create rain during a drought and our team acts in a similar fashion, bringing relief to an often harsh travel industry environment. For example, as agents face today’s high pressure competitive business environment, such as moving toward zero airline commissions, disintermediation and reducing margins, it is the role of the ‘Rainmakers’ to assist them in developing and improving the way they do business with out-of-the-box solutions.”

Travelport’s ‘Rainmakers’ group is comprised of:

- Ms. Stephanie Lee, Senior Manager, Market Development, Asia. Based in Hong Kong, Stephanie has over 12 years of experience in the travel industry. Prior to this position, she was the Senior Manager of Sales & Account Management of Galileo Greater China.

- Mr. Alan Liu, Senior Manager, Market Development, Asia. Also based in Hong Kong, Alan joined Travelport after serving as International Development Manager and Head of Asian Airline Solutions, Worldspan, Atlanta, Georgia.

- Ms. Elaine Lee, Senior Manager, Market Development, Asia. Based in Singapore, Elaine joined the team after spending five years as Senior Project Analyst, Content Development and Business Analyst, Emerging Business for Abacus International. She also has an additional eight years of previous travel experience in a variety of roles; and

- Mr. Marla Veerabhadra Shastry, Head, Market Development, South Asia, who has broad market development responsibilities for India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Based in India, Marla has over 26 years of experience in Profit Centre Operations, Business Development, Operations Management, and Client Servicing in the travel and tourism industry. Prior to joining Travelport, he worked as Business Head – North, for India Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

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