Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has appointed Gavin Halliday (pictured) as managing director of Hala Group, its “destination management and global loyalty” unit.
At Hala, Halliday will lead EAG’s new global loyalty company, which brings together Etihad Guest with the loyalty programmes of other EAG partner airlines. He will also have responsibility for EAG’s destination and conference management organisations, which are critical elements of the company’s plans to grow leisure and business travel to Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
Halliday brings to his new role more than 30 years of experience at British Airways and other IAG business units. For the last three years, he has been chief executive officer of Avios, IAG’s global loyalty programme.
Previously, he held senior commercial positions at IAG, Iberia, British Midland and British Airways.
Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel al-Mazrouei, chairman, board of the Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Hala is a critical element of Etihad’s strategy to leverage the combined reach and value of our airline partners. It also is an important platform for realising the full potential of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a preferred destination for business and leisure travel. Gavin is an innovator and leader in the industry; we are excited to have him join EAG’s leadership team.
“We are particularly excited at the experience Gavin will bring to our global loyalty marketing programme, for which we have big plans.”
Halliday said, “This is an incredible opportunity. Etihad Airways has been one of the fastest-growing airlines of the last decade and Hala is an engine for further expansion. I look forward to working closely with local travel companies and organisations to bring more business and vacation visitors to Abu Dhabi and the UAE.”
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