11 Dec J.D. O’Hara Named President of Travel Leaders Group
O’Hara Takes on Newly-Created Post to Oversee Strategic Growth Efforts Across All Brands
New York (Dec. 11, 2018) – Travel Leaders Group today announced that J.D. O’Hara has been named as President of the company as it embarks on further strategic growth initiatives for its family of travel brands. In the newly-created role, O’Hara will oversee and work closely with the various Travel Leaders Group brand presidents to address specific needs of each distinct division, as well as continue to enhance the travel advisor and member agency value proposition. O’Hara’s appointment is effective immediately and he will report to Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko, CTC. O’Hara joins Travel Leaders Group from Certares Management, LLC, where he served as Senior Partner.
“J.D.’s significant travel industry experience, intimate knowledge of our brands, and strategic thinking will serve us well as we move into the next chapter of our company’s development,” said Chacko. “He brings to the task not only wide business experience, but a passionate commitment to the success of our travel advisors and member agencies.”
O’Hara is no stranger to Travel Leaders Group. He was part of the original management buyout of Carlson Leisure Group from Carlson Companies in January 2008 and has served a key role in Travel Leaders Group’s ongoing growth since the company’s inception. In his various operating roles within Travel Leaders Group and as a member of the company’s Board of Directors while at Certares, O’Hara has had direct oversight of Travel Leaders Group’s vast investment activity, including acquisitions of Tzell Travel Group, Nexion Travel Group, Vacation.com, Protravel International, Andrew Harper Travel, CruCon Cruise Outlet, as well as Travel Leaders Group’s recent merger with Altour. As the company sought to expand beyond its core U.S. footprint, O’Hara led Travel Leaders Group’s international growth with the acquisitions of Mexico-based Corporate Travel Services, and UK-based agencies, Colletts Travel and Barrhead Travel.
With an intimate knowledge of the various Travel Leaders Group brands, O’Hara plans to hit the ground running with a deep focus on enhancing services and profitability to the company’s travel advisors and member agencies, as well as driving continued growth in select strategic markets.
“I am thrilled to be rejoining Travel Leaders Group at this exciting time and to have the opportunity to help accelerate the momentum that the company has enjoyed over the years. I look forward to bringing my experience to help build an even stronger and brighter future for the thousands of employees and travel advisor constituents that make us the industry leader that we are,” said O’Hara, adding that one of his first priorities will be to visit as many locations and engage with as many employees, advisors and agency owners as possible. “This is truly a talented collection of people and I’m absolutely honored to be back working with such an amazing team on a daily basis.”
“J.D. is a savvy and analytical business leader with a long track record of advocating for travel advisors,” said Chacko. “In the coming year, he will be integral to our plans as we focus on enhancing our standing as the leader in premium travel service, as well as enriching our support and service to our advisors and agency community.”
O’Hara serves on the Board of Directors of Travel Leaders Group, Marietton Developpement, In The Know Experiences, and Global Crew Logistics Concierge. Prior to joining Travel Leaders Group, O’Hara served in the investment banking industry at Lehman Brothers in New York. O’Hara received a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
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About Travel Leaders Group
Travel Leaders Group (www.travelleadersgroup.com) is transforming travel with a commitment to our vacation and business travel clients via our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Travel Leaders Group assists millions of travelers through its leisure, business and network travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands including Altour, Andrew Harper Travel, Barrhead Travel, Colletts Travel, Corporate Travel Services, CruCon Cruise Outlet, Cruise Specialists, Nexion Travel Group, Protravel International, Travel Leaders Corporate, Travel Leaders Network and Tzell Travel Group. Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry’s largest retail travel agency companies.
Travelers also have access to The Travel Collection by Travel Leaders Group, a portfolio of select travel offers including discounts on international and domestic flights, value-added benefits at lodging establishments, shipboard credits on cruises and savings on escorted and vacation packages. Membership to The Travel Collection is offered at no additional cost to U.S. American Express Gold Card, Business Gold Rewards Card, Platinum Card® and Business Platinum Card® Members. For more information visit www.TheTravelCollection.com.