HILTON MANOEUVRES
Stakis marketing director Mike Ashton has taken up the same position at Hilton International following the takeover of Stakis by Hilton’s owner Ladbroke. Former Hilton International marketing director David Andrews is being considered for other positions within the new enlarged group but nothing had been decided as Travel Weekly went to press. Hilton International chief executive David Michels, who held the same role at Stakis before it was acquired, is due to announce a new management team this week. The integration of the two groups is expected to lead to redundancies.
AMERICAN OPERATIONS
American Airlines has moved its Birmingham operations to the airport’s Eurohub terminal to give smoother transfers onto Oneworld partner British Airways.
IMMINUS LAUNCH
Imminus launches anon-line booking product to cross-Channel operators in central London today. The new system will have Internet reservation technology to enable firms to save costs in the booking process. Eurotunnel’s on-line booking site went live last week.
KVAERNER PROMISES
Engineering giant Kvaerner said it will complete the six cruise ships on order or under construction despite planning to sell off its shipbuilding arm. It has agreements to build three vessels for Royal Caribbean International, one for Costa Cruises, one for Carnival Cruise Line and one for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. A Kvaerner spokesman said the contracts would be honoured without delay or disruption.