NEW YORK, NY, May 24, 2017 – TransPerfect, the world’s largest privately held provider of language and technology solutions for global business, today announced the hiring of Niklas Schlappkohl, a travel industry veteran, as the company’s Senior Director of Travel Solutions. Schlappkohl has over 16 years of experience working in the travel and hospitality industry, and he has held strategic roles at industry-leading brands that include Accor, NH Hoteles, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Carlson Rezidor.
Throughout his career, which has included significant time in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America, and has seen him become proficient in eight languages, Schlappkohl has assumed broad international responsibilities for the brands he’s represented. He is a widely respected expert who has spoken frequently at panels and conferences on topics including creating, implementing, and optimizing full lifecycle e-commerce and localization strategies as well as international marketing and outreach strategies.
Schlappkohl has served as Chairman of the HSMAI Digital Marketing Advisory Board since 2015 and has been a member since 2012.
“TransPerfect is the undisputed leader in providing translation and localization solutions to the travel and hospitality industry, and has been for many years,” said Schlappkohl. “I am thrilled to join the TransPerfect family and use my experience in the industry to help further refine the travel and hospitality practice. I expect to help build on the company's successful history of bringing the best translation solutions to travel and hospitality clients."
TransPerfect Co-CEO Liz Elting remarked, “Niklas has an engaging and passionate approach to the international aspects of the hospitality industry, a fact that’s been made clear through his accomplishments over the course of his career. He is a great addition to the TransPerfect family, and our clients will immediately benefit from his industry knowledge, his real-world experiences, and his ability to deliver results.”
“Niklas is a well-respected figure in the hospitality industry, and he brings a valuable perspective to the conversation for all travel brands and to our dedicated internal teams,” added TransPerfect Co-CEO Phil Shawe. “We are confident that his experience will help our clients achieve and exceed their global business goals.”
Schlappkohl will be based in TransPerfect’s 400+ person Barcelona office and will immediately begin working with the company’s industry-leading portfolio of travel and hospitality clients.