Hotel room distribution platform RoomIt by CWT announces senior appointments

Jeff Zidell has joined as senior vice president and customer experience officer, and Ellen Zfaney has been appointed vice president, supply strategy and innovation

CWT’s hotel room distribution division RoomIt by CWT has announced two key senior appointments.

Jeff Zidell has joined as senior vice president and customer experience officer, and Ellen Zfaney has been appointed vice president, supply strategy and innovation.

Dave Falter, president of RoomIt by CWT, said: “Our number one priority today, not just in RoomIt, but across our entire organization, is improving the traveler experience.

“We are excited to have Jeff and Ellen on board to build on RoomIt’s goal of delivering customer experience excellence with more relevant content, better rates and amenities, increased availability, loyalty rates, and a simple booking experience.

“Along with the wider RoomIt leadership team, I am delighted to welcome Jeff and Ellen, who share RoomIt’s belief that transforming your travel program to drive better compliance and results begins with a better customer experience.”

Zidell joins RoomIt via startup CorePoint Lodging, where he was senior vice president, asset management.

Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade with Hyatt Hotels, where he was senior vice president loyalty marketing and partnerships.

RoomIt said his “multi-industry background within highly competitive industries and rapidly evolving markets, position him well to lead RoomIt across all channels and head up RoomIt’s user experience, marketing and public relations groups”. He will report into Falter.

Zfaney joins RoomIt from Expedia, where she was head of global strategic partnerships for over three years.

Prior to that, she was vice president, Americas partnerships, Orbitz Partner Network (OPN) at Orbitz Worldwide for almost 11 years.

At RoomIt she will lead the market management organisation and the newly-created sales effectiveness global supply group.

Her focus will be on positioning RoomIt’s hotel strategy and driving innovation in hotel supply channels to drive better customer experience.

She will report to Shannon Hyland, senior vice president of global supply, RoomIt by CWT.