Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading commercial airline, has appointed Mr. Robert Brunner as its Executive VP, USA with immediate effect. Mr. Brunner has worked in the airline and associated industries for over 30 years, predominately with British Airways USA where he was the Director of Regional Sales from 2001 – 2006 and Director of Business Travel Marketing from 1995 - 2001. In addition to spending over 20 years in New York, where he had regional responsibility for 18 States, five gateways and nine flights per day, Mr. Brunner relocated to London for three years where he helped to develop a new revenue accounting system for British Airways. He was a member of the Board of Directors Marketing Scholarship Fund and Treasurer and Board Member of the British American Business Council until taking up his position with Arik. Mr Brunner takes over responsibility for the commercial running of Arik Air in the United States, including sales, marketing, finance and human resources. He will also oversee the operational team handling initially three flights a week at New York’s JFK airport. The airline operates direct services from New York to Lagos on Monday, Wednesday and Friday departing JFK Terminal 4 at 22.00 arriving in Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport at 14.40. Inbound services from Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday departing at 23.20 arriving in JFK at 05.50.

The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi has informed us that the tourist visa fee exemption period which is to end on March 4th, 2010 will not be extended. Thai embassies, consulates and honorary consulates worldwide will start charging tourist visa fees as normal on March 5th, 2010. This also applies to visas on arrival at all immigration checkpoints into Thailand.

Joan Ferraro, CMP,  has been named Director of Sales & Marketing at the Millennium Bostonian Hotel. An experienced sales and marketing professional with an in-depth knowledge of the Boston market as well as long-term ties to many local organizations, Ferraro is repsonsible for all sales and marketing operations at the Millennium Bostonian Hotel. Previously, she held the position of Director of Sales & Marketing for the Newport Marriott Hotel, Sales Manager for the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and several sales and catering positions at The Sheraton Boston Hotel & Towers.