Unique Vacation has new president

Unique Vacations, Inc. (UVI), exclusive representatives of Sandals Resorts International in the Americas, has announced the appointment of travel industry veteran Ellen Bettridge as president. She will be based in Miami and begins her new role on Jan. 6, 2014. Bettridge comes to UVI as one of the travel industry’s most recognizable and respected executives. Prior to joining UVI, Bettridge served as president of the Americas for luxury cruise company Silversea. Before that, she built a 20-year career with American Express, starting as a travel counselor and departing the company in 2012 as vice-president of the American Express US Retail Travel Network.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ellen Bettridge to the Sandals family,” said Gordon “Butch” Stewart, chairman of Sandals Resorts International. “She is a person of incredible talent whose experience as a marketer, luxury brand expert and champion of travel agents, is perfectly aligned with our objectives of growth, innovation and excellence.”