Pleasant Holidays Names James Kareka New Vice President of Trade Brands

Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 9:05 AM ET, Fri April 11, 2025

James Kareka

James Kareka. (Photo Credit: Pleasant Holidays)

WHY IT RATES: Kareka boasts three decades of experience in travel and hospitality and will be a key resource for the travel advisor community.—Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior Editor


Pleasant Holidays has named James Kareka to the position of Vice President of Trade Brands to take on a crucial role in the company’s strategic initiatives as it realigns its brands to offer exceptional and efficient service to the travel advisor community.

“We are thrilled to welcome James and his deep industry knowledge to the Pleasant Holidays team,” said David Hu, President and CEO. “His skills and experience will be indispensable as we redefine Pleasant Holidays and its brands to better align with the needs of the travel advisor community.”

With 30 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry, Kareka has built a distinguished career of sales leadership spanning corporate travel, luxury leisure travel, wholesale distribution and hospitality management.

Most recently, he was the Senior Director of Sales for a major tour operator and Director of Sales, National Accounts for a luxury tour operator. He began his career in corporate travel before overseeing sales and operations for a Virtuoso agency in San Francisco. His expertise extends to hospitality, through a role as Director of Sales for The Kahala Hotel & Resort.

Originally from Pacific Grove, Calif., Kareka now resides in Seattle, where he enjoys exploring nature, whether hiking or simply taking in the Pacific Northwest’s stunning landscapes. He also has a deep appreciation for culinary arts and loves bringing these two passions together - seeking out fresh, local ingredients to create memorable meals inspired by his travels.

For more information or to make a booking, travel advisors can visit PleasantAgent.com or call 1-800-448-3333. For Group Reservations, call 1-800-542-9244; for Destination Wedding Travel 1-800-818-9080. Pleasant Holidays is a member of Tourism Cares, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and an active member of the United States Tour Operator Association (USTOA) and participates in the $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program.


SOURCE: Pleasant Holidays press release.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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