James Vaile

> Chief Operating Officer

James Vaile is chief operating officer of Aspirion, a leading Australian-based aviation consultancy which provides strategic advice and business planning tools to numerous airlines, airports, governments, tourism bodies, banks and investment institutions around the world.

He leads the company’s program of continual improvement in streamlining its processes and maximising efficiencies to best effect for its clients.  He is also responsible for the company’s aspirations for organic growth both in Australia and internationally.

James started his career at Singapore Airlines where he spent eight years in a number of operational, sales and marketing roles before establishing his own wholesale travel company.  In those days, a keen interest in what was then emerging technologies, led him to maximise financial growth, streamline operational systems and evolve new distribution models for all channels within the national travel industry.

From there James joined Microsoft as part of the initial team to set up Expedia within the business.  Expedia launched in the United States in October 1996 and today is one of the largest travel agency networks in the world.

During his eight years at Expedia, James held various managerial positions across Asia Pacific and Europe. In 1998, ahead of the dot com boom, James was promoted to managing director of Expedia UK, and then vice president, Expedia Europe. In just three years he established himself as a valued strategist and leader, during which time Microsoft took the Expedia business to IPO on NASDAQ, and he was invited to present to the UN in Geneva on the subject of e-commerce in tourism.

Having grown the UK business to profitability in the first quarter post 9/11, James chose to return home to Australia, and was subsequently promoted to the position of vice president, Expedia Asia Pacific.

After leaving Expedia to pursue his own entrepreneurial interests, James established a successful business advisory and corporate consultancy Vaile & Associates in Sydney and was also appointed founding chairman of online travel business Bezurk.com (wego.com).  He continues to manage his own portfolio of investments across Australia, as well as a 200 acre beef producing farm on the mid north coast of New South Wales.

KEY AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

• Travel Distribution
• Travel Industry technology systems
• Sales, Marketing and PR via all travel industry channels
• Strategic development, growth and scaling of start-up organisations
• Cost management and controlling of start-up organisations
• Airfare pricing and distribution modelling