Richards, whose appointment is effective Aug. 1, brings more than 20 years of executive leadership and management experience in travel wholesale operations and online travel agency experience to Pleasant Holidays.

Richards' experience includes his most recent post as senior vice president, product marketing and strategy at Hotels.com, as well as president and chief executive officer of The Leisure Company, which operated the America West Vacations brands. Richards also was chief executive officer of at Adventure Tours USA, Inc., and vice president tour operations at ATA airlines.