IWorld of Travel appoints new COO, Global Marketing and Partnerships

IWorld of Travel is adding a dynamic, new personality to oversee the company’s marketing and travel partnerships in its growing portfolio around the globe.

“It is with great excitement and pleasure to announce the hiring of our newest Executive Team member, Kelly Swift, to the position of COO/Global Marketing & Partnerships,” said Michael Gelber, IWorld’s CEO, CFO, and Chairman of the Board. “I have known Kelly for more than a decade, beginning when we worked together at the Sacramento Bee. Her boundless enthusiasm, incredible skillsets, attention to detail, and ability to develop relationships, network, and implement a broad range of initiatives are beyond impressive. We are lucky to have her.”

Swift has more than 20 years of experience in creating and executing strategic marketing campaigns for top national and international brands, including National Geographic. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in Communications, she launched her career in print, digital publishing, and broadcast media.

In 2008, Swift traveled throughout Africa volunteering and working for non-profit organizations. During her time there, she worked with lions in Zimbabwe and abandoned babies in South Africa; helped clean the coral reefs off the coast of Zanzibar; went white water rafting on the Nile and Zambezi; camped in the Serengeti; and trekked with the endangered mountain gorillas in
Uganda. She shared her experiences in a blog that was read around the world and resulted in a feature story in the Zululand Observer. It was this experience that led her to realize the important and valuable role tourism plays in emerging economies, and she began applying her marketing and development experience to the industry. She consulted on several projects for the Republic of Uganda Tourism and Wildlife Authority, and has worked with tour operators, lodges, and airlines to increase brand awareness and grow business.
“I am thrilled to join the team at IWorld of Travel, and to bring my varied experiences and industry knowledge to bear on the company’s bright prospects for growth,” said Kelly Swift.

ABOUT IWORLD OF TRAVEL

IWorld of Travel is celebrating 50 years of creating memories for travelers across the globe. Tailor made, bespoke experiences are perfectly crafted and curated by a team of destination experts who have often been born and raised in, lived in, or extensively traveled throughout the destination they represent-a mark of distinction in the travel industry. The company is comprised of a portfolio of top-tier tour operators-catering to a specific type of experience or guest and taking travelers to different parts of the world-all housed under the IWorld of Travel umbrella and based in IWorld of Travel’s global headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.