Online travel deals publisher Travelzoo has announced former TWgroup chief executive Simon Ferguson has been appointed to head up its destinations and network business in the UK.
Ferguson led the management buy-out of the TWgroup from Reed Business Information in 2009 and five years ago founded Travel Weekly sister title Travolution, the European travel industry’s leading media brand in the field of online travel, digital marketing and innovation.
During his eight years at Travel Weekly he also oversaw the transition of the group’s gazetteers.com, the widely used hotel and destination review site for travel agents, from a hard copy to a purely online product.
In his new role, which he starts on July 14, Ferguson will lead the development of the Travelzoo network and syndicated content business, as well as working on a number of other strategic initiatives.
He will report to UK managing director Joel Brandon-Bravo, and will work closely with Travelzoo’s US and European offices. Brandon-Bravo said: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Simon’s calibre and track record to our UK business.
“We believe Simon’s expertise in the publishing and travel industries coupled with his understanding of digital media in particular will be an asset to the UK business and the development of our network business and other strategic initiatives.”
“In almost a decade of working closely with the travel and digital media sectors, Travelzoo is one of the most exciting businesses I have witnessed. I look forward to joining and to helping to fuel the business’s continued growth,” Ferguson added.
Ferguson will retain links with Travolution writing a monthly column for the website and he will take a place on the publication’s editorial advisory board. He will also chair this year’s Travolution Summit that will be held at The Roundhouse in Camden, on the day of its annual awards ceremony, as the publication celebrates its fifth birthday.