Avoya Travel Announces Key Leadership Additions and Restructures to Accelerate Strategic Growth and Partnerships

New executive hires and strategic realignment position Avoya Travel to expand partnerships, strengthen advisor support, and accelerate growth in the luxury travel segment.

 

Key Facts
• New Hires: Julie Howard (Vice President of Partnerships) and Kameish Stanley (Vice President of Strategic Growth)
• Company: Avoya Travel
• Focus Areas: Partnerships, strategic growth, luxury travel expansion
• Key Initiative: Development of a new luxury-focused program
• Additional Updates: Leadership alignment across Sales, Marketing, Groups, and Network Success
• Announcement Date: March 19, 2026

 

Why This Matters:
These leadership additions and organizational updates reflect Avoya’s continued investment in strategic growth, stronger supplier partnerships, and expanded opportunities for its network of independent travel advisors, particularly in the fast-growing luxury travel segment.

 

Media Statement
Avoya Travel today announced the addition of two senior leaders alongside key internal leadership alignments as part of its continued investment in growth, partner strategy, and advisor success.

 

Julie Howard will join Avoya as Vice President of Partnerships, bringing more than 20 years of experience with Signature Travel Network, where she most recently led cruise partnerships across the consortium. Howard is widely recognized for her deep relationships with leading travel suppliers and her ability to develop high-impact partner programs. In her new role, she will oversee Avoya’s global partner strategy, focusing on strengthening supplier relationships, expanding co-op opportunities, and delivering more competitive and aligned programs for independent advisors.

 

Kameish Stanley has been appointed Vice President of Strategic Growth. Previously with Oasis Travel, Stanley brings extensive experience in building and scaling advisor networks across multiple travel segments. At Avoya, she will lead the development of a new luxury-focused initiative, designed to expand opportunities for advisors in the premium travel space. She will also oversee key growth initiatives, including promotions and strategic industry relationships.

 

To support this next phase of growth, Avoya has also implemented a series of leadership alignments designed to enhance support, improve performance, and create stronger connectivity across its network.

 

Mickey McBride has stepped into the role of Vice President of Sales, where he will lead efforts focused on advisor success, sales performance, and network-wide execution. His leadership will center on strengthening support systems and driving measurable results across the advisor network.

 

In addition, Avoya has introduced a more specialized Network Success structure under three Senior Directors, each focused on a critical area of the advisor journey. Kerry Fredericks will lead Support, overseeing Independent Agency Relations, Independent Agency Support, and Customer Service. Gina Hoyt will lead Learning, including Avoya Academy, Network Expansion, and early-stage advisor success and enrichment. Danny Dobrott will lead Sales, overseeing Brand Sales, the Contact Center, and the Independent Agency Advocacy Board. This alignment is designed to provide advisors with clearer access to resources, more specialized expertise, and a more seamless experience across every stage of their business.

 

Andy Craig will continue as Vice President of Marketing, focused on enhancing lead generation, advancing marketing tools, and driving stronger overall performance. Viola DeVelasco will continue as Vice President of Groups, leading the continued growth of Avoya’s groups business, a key opportunity area for advisors.

 

“These additions and leadership alignments reflect our ongoing commitment to investing in top talent and building a stronger, more dynamic future for the Avoya Network,” said Phil Cappelli, Chief Executive Officer of Avoya Travel. “By strengthening both our external partnerships and internal support structure, we are better positioned to help our advisors sell more, earn more, and grow their businesses.”

 

Collectively, these updates are designed to deliver greater value across the Avoya Network, including stronger support and accessibility, more competitive and aligned partner programs, expanded opportunities in luxury travel, and continued investment in marketing, leads, and advisor tools.