Direct Travel unveils strategic realignment of its Leisure Division

Direct Travel unveiled a strategic realignment of its Leisure division to provide more focused support for travel advisors, accelerate sales growth, and establish a strong data foundation for next-generation technology. The new structure took effect Oct. 1, 2025.

The reorganization introduces a simplified, sales-focused model that aligns teams to advisor needs rather than geography. The Host Services division, led by Joelle Goldman, VP Host Services and Luxury Hotel Program, will continue to provide dedicated resources for independent advisors, ensuring faster access to expertise, stronger day-to-day support, and clearer paths to growth.

Julie Skinner, SVP Leisure Sales, will oversee Direct Travel’s network of employee advisors across North America. By unifying Retail under one vision, she and her management team will deliver consistent sales support, training, and client engagement strategies that help advisors strengthen relationships and capture new opportunities.

Vivienne Kouba, SVP Leisure Operations, will lead a consolidated Operations team supporting both Retail and Host Services advisors throughout North America. This alignment will streamline workflows, standardize service levels, and improve turnaround times—enabling advisors to focus more time on clients while leveraging a stronger operational infrastructure.

Rene Schneeberger, SVP Groups & Revenue Optimization, will work closely with Gerard Bellino, President, Leisure Travel to expand the leisure organization based on the recent acquisition of ATPI by Direct Travel and optimize supplier contracts.

Bellino will also continue to lead the North American Groups team, expanding this critical area by sharing best practices across Direct Travel’s network of more than 900 advisors to help diversify and grow their sales mix.

As part of the restructuring, Rebecca Adams has been appointed VP, Data Strategy & Insights, Leisure Travel. She will unify data sources, define enterprise standards, and deliver analytics that fuel smarter tools and more efficient workflows.

Adams said: “I’m thrilled to take on this new opportunity and help solidify our strategy for what is now truly a global organization. By bringing clarity and consistency to our data, we’re laying the foundation for technology that empowers advisors in their everyday business and helps them achieve even greater success.”

In addition, Stephen Smith has been named EVP, Leisure Travel, and is taking on an expanded role that includes overseeing Partnerships, Strategy & Marketing and driving leisure technology innovation.

Smith observed: “This integration will bring tighter collaboration, smarter tools, and innovative programs designed to help advisors succeed across every channel.”

And Bellino noted that: “This realignment positions Direct Travel to meet the demands of an ever-changing marketplace. By centering our structure on advisor success — supported by data, technology, and world-class partnerships — we’re equipping our teams to move faster, personalize service at scale, and capture growth opportunities across every leisure segment.”

What the Changes Mean for Advisors:

• Sales-Aligned Support: Streamlined teams with clear ownership and faster response times.
• Data Strategy & Insights: A single source for pipeline, productivity, and client lifecycle metrics—fueling smarter decisions and higher conversion.
• Technology Enablement: A data foundation that accelerates rollout of new booking, marketing, and commission tools—reducing admin and increasing selling time.

These changes reflect Direct Travel’s long-term commitment to elevating advisor success through precision, efficiency, and partnership.

In the photo 

Seen here, from l to r, are Gerard Bellino, Joelle Goldman, Stephen Smith, Vivienne Kouba, Rene Schneeberger, Julie Skinner and Rebecca Adams.