ID Travel Group, a member of the Virtuoso luxury travel network, has appointed its first Australian-based Associate Director for Asia Pacific, LATTE can reveal. Queensland-based independent travel advisor and relationship manager with Savenio, Belinda Layt, will commence in the role with ID effective next week, taking over from Katie Hawkins who held the role for 4.5 years before recently taking a career break.
ID specialises in accommodation packages for ultra-luxury hotels, resorts and condos in island destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Hawaii, Maldives, Mediterranean and more. The B2B tour operator has previously had representation in Australia but never appointed an Associate Director in the country, until now.
Subscribe to LATTE’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.
Laurie Palumbo, Chief Operating Officer at ID Travel Group said the local appointment of Layt will provide elevated service to the group’s partners in Australia.
“We are thrilled to hire down under and welcome Belinda Layt… your new ID go-to for all things reservations, sales and operations!” Palumbo said.
“Belinda, based on the Gold Coast, is a former luxury travel advisor and has held several roles within the travel industry where she has travelled to over 70 countries to date,” she enthused.
She will take up the Associate Director, Asia Pacific position from Tuesday 1 November 2022, working alongside Joanne Ng and the ID Travel Group team “bringing her expertise, relationships and a wealth of luxury travel experience,” the COO said.
Layt told LATTE she was “very excited for this incredible opportunity”. She said she has always been a strong supporter of the brand and has built a great relationship with the team, including Palumbo, the departed Hawkins, and Ng who is based in Singapore.
The former Director of Travel for Focus Travel Indochina also worked in the retail space for 19 months before joining Savenio as a luxury travel advisor in early 2018. Over the past five months, Layt has taken on the added responsibility of Key Partner Relationship Manager at Savenio under founder David Brandon, while maintaining her affiliate travel advisor duties.
Hawkins, who was Singapore-based Associate Director, Asia Pacific for the New York-based travel company until September, had been with ID Travel Group for over 7 years. She told LinkedIn friends last month that she was taking a break to explore Southeast Asia as a solo traveller.
“ID is proud to be the luxury travel advisor’s, luxury travel advisor – and we feel very confident that with Belinda’s experience and service-driven approach, she will be a perfect addition to our team,” Palumbo said.
The executive also confirmed Lynee Ireland will remain in her long-standing role as Brand Ambassador for ID Travel Group. Further, ID Travel Group has confirmed it will host its next Australian roadshow in early 2023, with save-the-date notifications currently being sent out to travel advisor partners.
Layt can be contacted via email at belindaL@idtravelgroup.com.