WestJet Expands Its Agency Sales Team
WestJet is expanding its Agency Sales team, with four Business Development Managers and one Commercial Account Manager joining the WestJet family as of Dec. 9, 2019.
Chuck Crowder, WestJet vice-president, sales and distribution, said of the appointments: “As WestJet grows globally and transforms into a network airline, we remain committed to supporting and building relationships with our valued travel trade partners.”
Crowder continued: “Our partners will benefit from the breadth of airline and travel industry experience our new team members bring, and we know that our trusted Agency Sales team is now even stronger.”
Jane Clementino, director of agency sales, is looking forward to 2020 as the year to redesign her team structure to ensure further development and investment in trade partner relationships and targeted sales growth.
Annique Slowey, Commercial Account Manager, reports to Jane Clementino.
Cesar Alvarenga, David Paton, Grant Lawlor and Carlos Peralta, Business Development Managers, report to Shannon Cunningham, Manager of Agency Sales.
Annique Slowey, Commercial Account Manager — Slowey brings to WestJet a combined 18 years’ experience in the travel and airline industries, most recently from Hertz Canada. Slowey was the Country Lead at United Airlines for more than eight years and has held several positions in Sales including Account Manager and Regional Sales Manager, working closely with key Travel Management Companies and Corporations.
Cesar Alvarenga, Business Development Manager — Alvarenga joins the WestJet team from his most recent role as BDM, Strategic Accounts for Aeromexico. He has also held key positions with Avianca Airlines as Duty Manager for Toronto, Montreal and JFK, and Station Manager in Orlando and Boston.
David Paton, Business Development Manager — Most recently of AmexGBT, Patton spent 13 years with Flight Centre Canada as Travel and Store Manager. Patton has a successful corporate agency background including International Consulting, and has experience working with both leisure and corporate/small and medium-sized enterprise accounts.
Grant Lawlor, Business Development Manager — Lawlor has 26 years of airline and tourism industry experience. His most recent role was National Groups Manager, and formerly Business Development Manager, Atlantic Canada with Unique Vacations (Sandals and Beaches brands) for the past 13 years. Prior to that, his career was with Harmony Airways & Harmony Vacations, Call Centre & Group Sales, and Signature Vacations Vancouver as Supervisor Group Sales & Airport Passenger Services.
Carlos Peralta, Business Development Manager, WestJet Vacations — Peralta comes to WestJet from Meliá Hotels International, where he held the position of Associate Director of Travel Industry Sales & Partnership for 16 years. Prior to that, Peralta held several roles in Honduras including Business Unit Leader at Amadeus IT Group, Sales Rep for Continental Airlines and KLM, and Reservations Sales Agent for TACA.
