Meet The Team

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Frank DeMarinis

CEO

Frank DeMarinis is an accomplished executive with more than 30 years of experience in the Canadian travel industry. As CEO of TravelBrands…

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Frank DeMarinis – President & CEO

Frank DeMarinis is an accomplished executive with more than 30 years of experience in the Canadian travel industry. As President & CEO of TravelBrands, Frank oversees a diverse portfolio of both retail and wholesale brands including Sunquest, Encore Cruises and Intair.

Frank’s journey in the travel industry began in 1987 when he and his brothers, Enzo and Joe, founded Belair Travel. In 2001, Belair was sold to the North American Leisure Group, which later became Thomas Cook North America. In 2004, Frank cofounded redtag.ca, which quickly became the largest independently-owned travel retailer in the country and the first OTA in the Canadian market. In 2013, the organization acquired the North American segment of Thomas Cook Group plc, growing from a retail company of 140 employees to a travel conglomerate with both retail and wholesale companies with just under 1,300 employees nationwide. This was later rebranded to TravelBrands and Frank was appointed as President & CEO. In August 2016, the company acquired itravel2000.com, the second largest OTA in Canada.

With the knowledge acquired throughout the years, extensive distribution channels and genuine love of travel, Frank drives the strategy and integration of all TravelBrands companies. His mission is to create a unique booking platform for customers and travel agents alike, ultimately offering the Canadian consumer complete flexibility when it comes to booking travel; and to help agents work smarter, not harder.

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Diane Lattavo

Executive Vice President, Air & Operations

With 25 years in the travel industry, Diane brings in-depth experience and firsthand knowledge that has been instrumental to TravelBrands’ overall success. Diane oversees all air activities for TravelBrands. This...

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Diane Lattavo - Senior Vice President, Air and Operations

With 25 years in the travel industry, Diane brings in-depth experience and firsthand knowledge that has been instrumental to TravelBrands’ overall success. Diane oversees all air activities for TravelBrands. This includes commercial initiatives, contracting and overall growth strategies with over 75 airline partners.

In addition to the air department, Diane manages the national call centres and operations teams. In this role, Diane is responsible for hiring, establishing policies, reviewing and implementing process and, optimizing initiatives and revenues.

Prior to joining the TravelBrands, Diane gained extensive experience working at JAT Yugoslav Airlines, Worldways and Hudson General Aviation.

Diane’s proven track record has and continues to be a driving force for TravelBrands.

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Diana Valler, CHRL, CHRP

Chief Human Resources Officer

Diana Valler is an enthusiastic international executive with over 17 years of extensive experience in Strategic Human Resources, Talent Management and Organizational Transformation that focus on tangible business results. Prior to...

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Diana Valler – Vice President Human Resources, CHRL, CHRP

Diana Valler is an enthusiastic international executive with over 17 years of extensive experience in Strategic Human Resources, Talent Management and Organizational Transformation that focus on tangible business results. Prior to joining our company, Diana has demonstrated a track record of success as Vice President of Human Resources for multiple professional services companies within the franchising, consulting and software industries. Her forte is building human capital and organizational capabilities by aligning them with the business objectives and corporate directions to accelerate growth, competitive responsiveness, and rapid execution of strategic initiatives. Diana has a passion for people and digital transformation, HR innovation and providing guidance and support to business stakeholders. She is part of HIS Red Label Vacations Executive Board leading the Human Resources Shared Services across North America. Diana also sits on the Board for HRPA York Region as Chair of Career Management and Community Engagement. As an accomplished leader, Diana is mostly recognized for her contagious positive energy, passion for excellence, relentless pursuit of culture, making things happen, strategic communication and motivational approach. Diana holds a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts degree. In addition, she is a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP)

Elvi Cal

Vice President, Product Development

Elvi Cal has been TravelBrands’ Vice President Product Development since 2015. He brings over 30 years of experience in the product development side of the travel industry, all within the same company via....

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Elvi Cal – Vice President Product Development

Elvi Cal has been TravelBrands’ Vice President Product Development since 2015. He brings over 30 years of experience in the product development side of the travel industry, all within the same company via multiple mergers and acquisitions.

In this role, Elvi oversees a team of buyers responsible for developing product for Mexico, Caribbean, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. He drives the continuous development of existing destinations, hotel partnerships, including negotiating marketing co-op funds, and seeks opportunities for new product lines, destinations and concepts. Elvi is also the main contact for Disney Parks and Resorts, and is responsible for hotel partnerships on connectivity.

As part of the Senior Executive team, Elvi effectively drives growth, efficiencies and cost-cutting measures, while identifying strategic opportunities to maximize profits. Elvi is known for his excellent relationship building skills to secure hotel and tourism board partnerships and maximizing new strategic market opportunities.

In previous roles with the company, Elvi has successfully negotiated Canadian exclusive risk and non-risk hotel contracts, marketing co-op funds and ensured the ongoing support of larger hotel chains in Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Europe. He has also redeveloped the Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji product line up for one of its brands.

Elvi caught the travel bug early and started his career as a 13 year old working part time in a travel agency. He has volunteered for various charity organizations including Dreams Take Flight, a national charitable organization dedicated to providing the trip of a lifetime to medically, mentally, physically, socially or emotionally challenged children. The organization provides a one day trip on Air Canada to Walt Disney World in Orlando.

Elvi has earned a Bachelor of Business Management from Ryerson University in Toronto and is married to Carla and has two boys, Andrew and Justin, both now out of school and working in the construction and banking trades.

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John Puntillo

Chief Information Officer

John Puntillo’s career has spanned over 30 years, beginning at large organizations such as The Hudson Bay Company where the IT team was comprised of over 700 individuals. In 2000, John joined Airtours...

 

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John Puntillo - CIO and VP of Information Technology

John Puntillo’s career has spanned over 30 years, beginning at large organizations such as The Hudson Bay Company where the IT team was comprised of over 700 individuals. In 2000, John joined Airtours, a UK based world leader in the leisure travel market based out of Manchester, England. They rebranded and merged with the current Thomas Cook Group. John overlooked the North American Division and after 13 years, this division was sold to private ownership and became what is known as TravelBrands.

John has been the CIO with this organization since 2004. His role focuses on providing the appropriate applications and tools that allow TravelBrands to compete is an ever-changing landscapes. As travel technology continues to be challenged by the rush of new entrants into the market, John and his team continue to re-invent ways to deliver travel to partners in the industry and to the ever-evolving consumer. From the personalization to the delivery of that content in the form that TravelBrands’ customers want to consume it, John oversees product delivery, forming strategic technological partnerships and the technological growth of the organization. John and his team are a critical part to the success of TravelBrands.

On a personal note, John has been married for 30 extraordinary years to Lucy. They are the parents of two, Matthew and Lucas, both of whom they are extremely proud of.

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Nathalie Tanious

Chief Operating Officer

Nathalie Tanious is responsible for the ongoing management and growth of TravelBrands’ cruise, package, specialty and FIT divisions. She leads development initiatives that support the growth and...

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Nathalie Tanious - Chief Operating Officer

As a Chief Operating Officer - COO, Nathalie Tanious is responsible for the ongoing management and growth of TravelBrands’ cruise, package, specialty and FIT divisions. She leads development initiatives that support the growth and continued success of the various product lines. Before joining TravelBrands, Nathalie held the positions of Vice President, International Development for Air Canada Vacations, and Vice President of Cruises at Thomas Cook Canada overseeing Encore Cruises, as well as Director National Marketing and product development for Intair. Nathalie has extensive experience in the travel industry in various management roles, in addition to sales experience. She holds a degree from L’Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec as well as certificates from McGill University and Université de Montréal.

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Sam Youssef

Vice President, Integrated Marketing

Sam has a long and distinguished career in the Canadian travel industry. His career in marketing, advertising and e-commerce stretches over two decades in broad and diverse roles in both retail...

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Sam Youssef - Vice President, Integrated Marketing

Sam has a long and distinguished career in the Canadian travel industry. His career in marketing, advertising and e-commerce stretches over two decades in broad and diverse roles in both retail and wholesale environments.

Sam has started his career at Sun Holidays in the mid-90s and hasn’t left the travel industry ever since. Sam’s greatest strengths are his creativity, strategic planning, and extensive e-commerce knowledge of all major travel industry B2B and B2C distribution channels. He thrives on challenges, particularly those that expand the company’s reach and growth.

In his current role as Vice President, Integrated Marketing, Sam oversees a cross-functional team of 20+. Sam and his team develop and execute breakthrough, integrated, multi-platform marketing strategies and experiences across all consumer touch points that drive engagement, customer acquisition, growth and brand awareness across top retail and wholesale brands in Canada. His portfolio includes; creative services, email marketing, video production, digital/traditional marketing, social media, content development, analytics & media buying.

Sam works collaboratively across all business units and strategic partners to leverage data-driven insights to develop creative marketing strategies with solid and measurable campaigns’ objectives that increase sales, value and a strong return on marketing investment.

Sam has earned his degree in Marketing and Business Management from Cairo University, Egypt.

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Tony Saunders

Chief Financial Officer

Tony Saunders has been TravelBrands’ Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since October 2014, and has been with the company for over 14 years. His responsibilities include overall strategic...

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Tony Saunders – Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Tony Saunders has been TravelBrands’ Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since October 2014, and has been with the company for over 14 years. His responsibilities include overall strategic direction for the company and he is responsible for all aspects of financial reporting, budgeting and planning, cash flow, treasury, taxation and controller operations.

Tony has extensive senior executive experience in, mergers & acquisitions and was responsible for a number of the purchases of the existing companies that operate under TravelBrands Inc., He has insolvency experience where most recently he successfully took the company through “CCAA” Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. “During the process none of TravelBrands customers were affected. The company operated throughout process generating positive cash flows, and emerged from the process stronger both financially and operationally.

Prior to joining TravelBrands, Tony held Senior Financial Roles with Business Travel International (BTI Inc.), HRG, Ernst and Young and taught accounting at Ryerson University. Tony holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Guelph, majoring in Hotel and Food Administration, and is both a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant.