Travel + Leisure Co. Appoints New Chief Technology Officer Sy Esfahani
ORLANDO, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$TNL #CTO—Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) today announced the appointment of Sy Esfahani to Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Esfahani has more than 30 years of experience as a technology leader for global travel, hospitality, and finance companies. In this capacity, Mr. Esfahani will oversee and align enterprise-wide technology with the company’s strategic goals as presented during its recent investor day. He will be responsible for integrating innovative new technologies and data analytics capabilities to deliver a dynamic, flexible, and integrated modern IT environment.
Mr. Esfahani was most recently Chief Information Officer at Qatar Airways Group, where he led the technology transformation to deliver exponential digital capabilities as part of delivering “5 Star” customer touch points. Prior to that he was Global Chief Information Officer for MGM Resorts International, where he focused on improving operations and customer experience within various lines of business across the 20 resort brands. With his team, he launched the first fully operational mobile and kiosk check-ins capable of offering digital keys to guest rooms.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Esfahani led the CIO and key technology leadership function for financial services companies Fiserv, ACI, and tradeshow production company GES. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a master’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University.
Mr. Esfahani joins Travel + Leisure Co. as the company builds upon its cornerstone brands and embarks on a four-year strategy to accelerate growth with new membership and subscription travel businesses.
“As we broaden our business and accelerate growth through diversified leisure travel offerings, technology remains central to our strategy,” said Michael D. Brown, president and CEO of Travel + Leisure Co. “Sy’s experience in three major parts of our business – hospitality, travel, and finance – will help enhance our technology platform to drive our growth.”
Mr. Esfahani will join the Travel + Leisure Co. executive committee, reporting to President and CEO Michael D. Brown.
“I look forward to strengthening the technology capabilities of Travel + Leisure Co. and contributing the digital transformation expertise I’ve built throughout my service to multiple industries. I am excited to assume leadership of the technology teams that will elevate Travel + Leisure Co. to the next level in the travel industry, as we optimize our platforms, channels, and capabilities,” said Mr. Esfahani. “We are poised to bring technology and innovation to the forefront as we continue to put the world on vacation.”
About Travel + Leisure Co.
Travel + Leisure Co. is the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, with nearly 20 travel brands across its resort, travel club, and lifestyle portfolio. The company provides outstanding vacation experiences and travel inspiration to millions of owners, members, and subscribers every year through its products and services: Wyndham Destinations, the largest vacation ownership company with more than 245 vacation club resort locations across the globe; Panorama, the world’s foremost membership travel business that includes the largest vacation exchange company, industry-leading travel technology, and subscription travel brands; and Travel + Leisure Group, featuring top travel content, travel services including the brand’s eponymous travel club, and branded consumer products. At Travel + Leisure Co., our global team of associates brings hospitality to millions each year, turning vacation inspiration into exceptional travel experiences. We put the world on vacation. Learn more at travelandleisureco.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “should,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “future” or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of Travel + Leisure Co. and its subsidiaries to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include those factors disclosed as risks under “Risk Factors” in documents we have filed with the SEC, including in Part I, Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021. We caution readers that any such statements are based on currently available operational, financial and competitive information, and they should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinion only as of the date on which they were made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to review or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances as they occur.
Contacts
Investor Contact:
Christopher Agnew
Senior Vice President, FP&A and Investor Relations
(407) 626-4050
[email protected]
Media Contact:
Steven Goldsmith
Public Relations
(407) 626-5882
[email protected]
