PEOPLE update as of November 10, 2020

Donna Fahey was named chief operating officer at MasterBUILT in September, 2020. At the same time, Rhonda Holland was named chief financial officer.

Fahey joined MasterBUILT over six years ago, starting as director of sales and marketing. She has been vice-president of sales and marketing since 2018 and has played an integral part in the company’s growth and development. Her extensive experience in the hospitality and tourism industries spans 18-plus years. Fahey spent 10 years in product development and management for the travel programs for the Calgary Zoo, the University of Alberta, and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. She was pivotal in leading the growth of sales and marketing during her time in the role of director of sales and marketing for one of western Canada’s largest resort management companies.

Holland started with the company in 2015 as controller, holding both director and vice-president roles through her tenure. Prior to MasterBUILT Hotels, she was regional finance manager at AECOM in the United States, leading management teams in large scale transportation engineering projects and also held senior accounting roles with Brookfield Residential. She has extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, profit-and-loss leadership, and project management. Her career began in sports administration, managing the day-to-day financial operations for Hockey Canada through a decade of Gold medal winning performances.

Travel Alberta Board Chair Linda Southern-Heathcott has announced that David Goldstein has been appointed as Travel Alberta’s new CEO, effective November 16, 2020. Goldstein has an extensive background in tourism and media, most recently serving as chief operating officer at Gusto Worldwide Media. Prior to this, Mr. Goldstein was president and CEO of Destination Canada, the Government of Canada’s marketing and research organization, for nearly five years, in addition to his nearly five years as president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), which represents the tourism industry at the national level. Goldstein joins Travel Alberta at a crucial time for Alberta’s tourism industry. Prior to COVID-19, Alberta tourism was an $8.9 billion industry on a growth trajectory, supporting 22,000 businesses and generating nearly 73,000 jobs. Now faltering from the pandemic, the worst crisis for the travel sector in the modern era, traveller spending in Alberta is anticipated to fall approximately 63 per cent in 2020 (to $3.5 billion), compared to 2019.

Bill Rheaume, representing Canada, was elected as president of the Skål International executive board for 2021 during the 81st Annual General Meeting held online on Oct. 17. Due to the pandemic, Skål International, the world’s largest Travel and Tourism Association, held its AGM online for the first time ever. The AGM was well attended with over 281 delegates representing over 90 countries. Canada was present with delegates representing 17 Skål Clubs in Canada. The online AGM was live streamlined on YouTube and watched by 1,266 viewers at the time of the live stream. Rheaume has been a member of Skål International since 1992, serving as president of Skål Canada as well as president of the international council for two years prior to being elected as a director at the Skål World Congress in Mombasa, Kenya in 2018.

Rheaume, is director, management services for Integrated Hospitality Management (IHM), and has been a Travel and Tourism Industry professional for over 20 years, including senior management experience at destination hotels and resorts located in the Canadian Rockies. He was president of the Skål Canadian Rockies Club in 2000 and 2001.

Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador has announced Brenda O’Reilly as the new chair of its board of directors. Effective immediately, O’Reilly will assume the duties of chair as long-time serving board director, Steve Denty, announced his resignation recently.

“Under Steve’s leadership, especially in the uncertain times of COVID-19, I am incredibly proud of our accomplishments over the past nine months and the industry is deeply grateful to Steve for his dedication, and passion for the industry,” said Craig Foley, CEO, Hospitality NL. “Equally, I am excited for what the future holds under Brenda’s leadership. Brenda brings a wealth of industry knowledge and strategic vision to our organization, which will be critical to our ability to scale and meet the various needs for the sustainability and recovery of the tourism industry.”

O’Reilly has worked in the tourism Industry for more than 30 years and is the owner/operator of O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub, Mussel’s On The Corner and Yellowbelly Brewery & Public House.