Management

After many journeys around the world and some initial years experience in the hospitality business and tour operating, Gaël joined the Pierre & Vacances group, participating in the creation of varius “3rd generation” ski resorts in the Alps and seaside spots. In 971 he began to manage & develop the Avoriaz ski resort, he co-created and directed the International Film Festival of the Fantastic which rapidly became France's 2nd most important movie festival after Cannes. He went on to occupy several managing positions in the Pierre & Vacances group and then became General Director of its tourism branch.

He became French Vice-President of the National Association of Ski Resorts and President of the National Association of Tourism Residences  and participated in the creation of the “Maison de la France” (the French National Tourism Board), becoming a Board Member in 1987. Then, as President and CEO, he merged 3 major French Tour Operators Airtour, Touropa, Cruisair and, five years later, he added Air France’s subsidiary SOTAIR to create Jet Tour. He became Vice-President of the National Association of Travel Agencies and Vice-President of the International Federation of Tour Operating (IFTO). In 1996, Gaël became an independent consultant and also Marketing Professor in the Tourism Department of the Marne-La-Vallée University.

In the year 2000 he created Interface Tourism which 10 years later has become a renowned international group of more than 60 full-time employees across Europe.

Gaël’s hobbies include golf, opera, politics & history and his 3 homes are Paris, the South of France and the entire planet !

Blaise obtained a Post Graduate Degree in Tourism Management from Toulouse Business School (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB Accredited) and DDB Travel & Tourism Agency, as well as a Master in Management from Paris' Dauphine University (EQUIS Accredited) and a Bachelor Degree in Chinese Language and Civilization from the French National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations.

Passionate for Asian countries, Blaise started his career in Asia and worked in Taiwan and Hong Kong from 1998 to 2000 as an expert in Economic and Social Sciences Studies for the French Institute for Asian Societies. He then moved to Paris to participate as Sales and Communication Manager in the launch of CCM, an online start-up company specialized in webcasting services.

Blaise entered Tourism in 2002 as Promotion Manager for Wolters Kluwer Group, a domestic multimedia publishing company responsible for some of France's leading professional Tourism magazines, Icotour, Tour Hebdo, etc…

Blaise joined Interface Tourism in 2005 as Country Manager for the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and was rapidly given new responsibilities as Director of the Asia/Pacific Department, managing the PR & Marketing activities of the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Australia and Taiwan in the French market.

In 2008, Blaise was nominated Marketing Director of the company with responsibility for strategy and for the implementation of trade and consumer promotional activities. Highly motivated by client satisfaction, Blaise blends his discerning knowledge of marketing tools (print / outdoor / digital / events…) with innovation to create results-oriented campaigns. During his 8 years experience in the industry, he has established a broad range of contacts and partnerships in and outside the tourism community. A strong believer in synergies and teamwork, Blaise is at the helm of the smooth circulation of information, brainstorming and the training of the French team.

Born in Oakville, Canada to British parents, educated in Switzerland, England and Scotland and married to a Spaniard and to Spain, Chris seemed predestined to dedicate his career to communicating the virtues of one country to the citizens of other countries! This is exactly what he has been doing ever since he set up his own business when he was just 19 years of age, whilst studying Spanish, Japanese and Politics in Edinburgh University.

More than two decades later he has added his unrivalled experience and reputation to his natural qualities of creativity and enthusiasm that are so appreciated by so many national tourist boards.

Chris is a founder member of the Spanish Chamber of Tourism Communicators, a member of ONETE (a Spanish Association of DMOs) and an affiliate member of the UNWTO.

In 2006 Chris founded one of the first networks of tourism marketing agencies, Tourism Trademark. He is also a regular speaker at destination marketing seminars and guest lecturer at several universities.

In 2009, his company Moonshine Marketing associated with the Interface Tourism Group and began to operate as Interface Tourism Spain. Chris is married and has 3 children.

Personal Blog: http://spanishoutbound.com

Born in Imperia in 1974, in 1998 she obtained her A class Degree in Foreign Languages and Literature from the Università Cattolica of Milan, specialising in Communication and Information Strategies and focusing on Tourism Management. After an initial incursion into PR she then experienced the world of tourism, working first of all in Sales & Marketing in the hotel business and then moving on to organise events and promotions such as the launch of famous cars such as the Audi TT or the Alfa Romeo 147 as well as organising jazz and classical concerts, managing sales and customer relations at international happenings such as the Montecarlo F1 race.

In 2001 Serena moved to Turin, where she started working in one of the biggest PR agencies in Italy, first as PR Account Manager for international tourist boards such as New Zealand and Kenya and then as Marketing Director for international accounts such as Hong Kong, Seychelles and Jordan.

In March 2004 she founded ES Communication together with her partner, Elena Martinetto: they’ve been consultants for Aviareps (for Kenya Tourist Board), La Meridiana Relais & Chateaux and for Mete di Liguria, a luxury Bed & Breakfast consortium. ES Communication is focusing more now on the organisation of international events including tourism congresses and conferences and sport and cultural events.

In June 2007, she founded Interface Tourism Italy, together with Elena Martinetto.

Serena's 3 homes are Liguria, Milan and New Zealand

Born in Torino in 1972, Elena obtained her Law Degree from the University of Torino and then attended a Seminar in Communication Strategies at the outset of her career. She first worked as Assistant Manager - Passengers at Torino International Airport where she was responsible for general operations and for relations with TOs or Airline Managers. In January 2000 she began to experience the world of PR, working as PR Director at DSN Design Service Network in Neuchatel (Switzerland), a network of companies specialised in the design and creation of car prototypes. She created and took care of the press office and organised the Turin Car Show and the Bologna Motor Show among other such events.

After leaving DSN, Elena worked from 2001 to 2004 as a consultant for one of the biggest PR agencies in Italy where she was PR Account Manager for Hong Kong Tourism Board, Swiss International Air Lines, Boscolo Luxury Hotels and Continental Airlines.

In March 2004 she founded ES Communication with her partner, Serena Valle: they’ve been consultants for Aviareps (for Kenya Tourist Board), La Meridiana Relais & Chateaux and for Mete di Liguria, a luxury Bed & Breakfast consortium. ES Communication is focusing more now on the organisation of international events including tourism congresses and conferences, sport and cultural rvents).

In June 2007, she founded Interface Tourism Italy, together with Serena Valle.

Regis has lived in Russia since 1998. A graduate in Graphic Design, English Literature and Danish Language, he began learning Russian at the age of 13. From 1988 to 1994 he was President of the Lloyd Hagen Promotion Bureau in Lyon (France) and for the next 2 years he was in charge of the Publishing Department of the "Maison de la France" (the French State Tourism and Promotion Company).

In 1995 Regis became General Director of RM Consultants Sales Promotion Agency founded in cooperation with his partner Eric Grandjean. Interface Tourism Russia is part of the Interface Tourism Group and is officially registered as a representational company, duly regulated by the trade laws of the Russian Federation. It has been represented in Russia and the Ukraine by RM Consultants since 2009 and General Manager Regis Morvan looks after its main operations from the company's offices in Moscow.

Doctor of Science. From 1984 to 1991 Eric created and managed a company specialising in technological development and participated in projects carried out by the Museum of Science and La Villette Museum in Paris. After a year long round the world tour he became Executive Director of the Lloyd Hagen Promotion Bureau in Lyon (France). In 1995 he became Managing Director of RM Consultants, a Sales Promotion Agency and since 2009 he became Managing Director of Interface Tourism Russia, set up in cooperation with Regis Morvan. The headquarters are in Paris and Eric leads the team there, specialising in hospitality promotion.

With 40 years of Airline experience and a final position as Senior Vice-President for the Benelux and Africa of an international airline, Etienne spent over 16 years abroad. He has been Chairman of different Chambers of Commerce abroad including the UK. More active than ever within Interface Tourism but also in various other domains, Etienne is also involved in the “Belgian Travel Comedy" theatre ... but this is another story.

Charles Bedoret has a Master in business and management in international trade from ICHEC, specialized in the tourism sector, end of study thesis with highest Honours on "The creation of a tourism fair for professionals in Belgium". During his studies he participated to the Erasmus exchange program with HEC Montréal and, in 2007 he acquired a PCMB (Professional Certificate in Business Management) from Berkeley and Stanford Universities. After his studies he was closely involved in the creation of BTExpo (Brussels Travel Expo) for which he is at present General Manager since 2007. In 2008 he created two new divisions of BTExpo: - IT Fidelity program (incentive reward program for attending and participating into educational and training events and programs addressing tourism professionals) - Beat the Event (event department specialized in congress & seminar organisation as well as creative events). Since December 2009, Charles is involved in the creation of Interface Tourism Belgium.

Holder of an MBA in Business Administration from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, Ali Abu Monassar has over 25 years experience in the hospitality industry and has contributed immensely to the development of tourism in the region.

Acclaimed as one of the pioneers of the local tourism industry, Ali Abu Monassar has invested heavily in creating and managing historical boutique hotels under the Al Salam brand.

Since the nineties he has led and contributed to the growth of the Net Group as its Executive Chairman. In 2009 he initiated a new brand, The Vision Destination Management of which he is Chairman.

Ali Abu Monassar has been an active player in local tourism public bodies in addition to having been Chairman of the ICCA Middle East Chapter. He was duly admitted to the exclusive “Who’s Who Society” in 2008.

Born to an Arab father and a European mother in July 1979, Anwar Abu Monassar's dual cultural heritage has helped him gain a broad understanding of markets in both regions. Together with his in-depth knowledge of the local industry, this rich heritage is no doubt concomitant to his excellent professional reputation and achievements.

An MBA graduate in International Relations, Law & Economics, he completed his university and post-graduate degree studies in Europe, participating in research experiences in Denmark, Belgium, UK, Spain and Italy and in several European Union cooperation projects prior to joining the Net Group in 2003.

Anwar began his career with the Net Group working in the MICE division and was instrumental in developing this segment. He was subsequently entrusted with the development and promotion of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and was based there as General Manager of the Abu Dhabi branch of Net Tours. He subsequently moved up the ladder to become Acting Group General Manager in 2008.

In 2009, with a motivated team of professionals, he became a Board Member of The Vision Destination Management, a Company set up to make a major impact in the inbound tourism industry within the Gulf Region.

Specialized in high level leisure programmes and tailor-made tourism events, since its launch The Vision Destination Management has gone from success to success and has been officially appointed Organiser of the GIBTM and ATM Trade Fairs – something which Anwar personally oversaw with the support of his team.

In collaboration with Interface Tourism, Anwar Abu Monassar identified the potential and the need for a reliable partner capable of guaranteeing market awareness and of generating business from the blossoming Gulf markets on behalf of clients worldwide.

Originally from Italy, Giulia Senigaglia has a wide experience of the Arabian Peninsula and its multi-ethnic society.

Holder of a Master’s degree in International Relations, Giulia speaks fluent English, Italian, French, Spanish, German and following many years studying Arabic, she now understands it extremely well.

Prior to joining Interface Tourism Arabia, Giulia Senigaglia worked as Project Analyst in the UNDP office in Sanaa and Abu Dhabi: this provided her with excellent experience in handling detailed projects involving PR, event organization, fund-raising, crisis management and government lobbying.

Motivation, optimism, dedication and excellent networking skills are some of the key characteristics of her personality.