Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel (No. 14 on Travel Weekly's Power List), will retire at the end of December and be replaced by Stacey Barber.
Paula Twidale
Twidale's career in the industry spans 40 years, beginning with a position at Boston Logan Airport before moving into leisure travel and tours.
At AAA, Twidale led the business through a number of initiatives, from brand satisfaction to brand awareness. She led the organization through the pandemic, pivoting to providing advice and advocacy for travelers.
She was the first woman to serve as president of the American Association of Tour Operators in 2016.
“Paula has played a key role in transforming AAA Travel, bringing new and exciting services, expert advice and great benefits to our members and beyond,” said Gene Boehm, incoming AAA president and CEO.
Barber, executive director of AAA Travel, will become vice president of travel services, overseeing AAA Travel's products and services.
Stacey Barber
In her current role, she has led numerous projects for the organization, including the overhaul of the AAA Diamond Hotel Ratings.
Twidale joined AAA in 2015. Previously, he worked at TravelClick, LightMaker, Darden Restaurants, RG Crown Bank and Hannover Life RE.
Twidale said Barber has been “an integral part of the AAA Travel team and is perfectly prepared to take on this new role. Since joining AAA, she has provided exemplary leadership for AAA Travel's editorial content, travel technology and Diamond Inspection programs.”
