TravelShark Adds E-commerce Veteran to Lead Business Development in the Americas
Erika McKitterick to oversee the online startup's innovative Featured Hotel Program
SINGAPORE - August 17, 2011 - Leading online global travel network TravelShark, owner of more than 12,000 destination-specific travel websites, announces that Erika McKitterick has joined the company as Director of Business Development. McKitterick will head up sales and account management for the Americas.
McKitterick joins TravelShark from the marketing, media, and e-commerce travel firm TravelClick, where she served as Director of Account Management. There, she coordinated online marketing campaigns for clients, including pay-per-click, search engine optimization efforts, website design and social media optimization.
At TravelShark, she will be working with hotels, brands, and agencies to identify global opportunities to increase direct revenue across TravelShark's sites through the Featured Hotel Program. In addition, TravelShark will rely on McKitterick's 14 years of industry leadership to help develop new products and services across additional travel verticals.
McKitterick brings a unique perspective to her new role with TravelShark. Prior to joining TravelClick, McKitterick served as E-Commerce Manager for full-service hotel management company Winegardner & Hammons Inc., giving her a thorough understanding of the inventory distribution challenges and objectives faced by hotel executives.
“I've walked in the shoes that a lot of TravelShark's hotel clients have, I can speak their language. I've actually done the work—I know how to set goals, deploy dollars and achieve the distribution successes they seek,” McKitterick says.
TravelShark is creating buzz across the travel industry for its global-to-local concept, offering consumers worldwide an interactive hub for market-specific travel planning. Meanwhile, hoteliers in the local markets benefit from prominent exposure to would-be travelers without sacrificing inventory allotment or signing on to high-priced commission models.
For more information on TravelShark and its online global travel network, please visit www.travelshark.com.
About TravelShark
TravelShark (formerly Swiftrank) is the world's largest online travel network, with more than 12,000 location-based travel websites for destinations around the globe.




Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at