As President of Leisure Travel at Direct, Gerard Bellino is responsible for expanding Direct Travel’s leisure travel segment through business development and marketing. Additionally, he is responsible for the integration of the company’s leisure acquisitions along with evaluating and implementing innovative technologies that support the company’s leisure division, enterprise-wide.
For more than 40 years, Gerard has been an active travel industry professional, holding high-level positions such as Executive Vice President U.S. Leisure Travel, Vice President Supplier Management and Regional Vice President with travel companies such as Navigant International, First Travel Corp., Worldview Travel, and Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
Gerard is known for his proactive leadership approach and rapid response to changing business environments. He is driven to create initiatives that will enable Direct Travel to continue being a leading leisure provider in the premium and luxury leisure travel markets. His areas of focus include supplier management and business development for the company’s leisure sales team and rapidly growing independent contractor program.
Gerard’s knowledge and expertise in the luxury market allows him to provide invaluable guidance and advice for Direct Travel’s travel advisors. His hands-on approach to daily business, including engagement with technology, marketing, vendor initiatives and client interaction support the growth and long term success of the Direct Travel organization.
Gerard resides and works from his home in Raleigh, North Carolina.