Kay Urban
President and Chief Executive Officer, Amadeus Americas
Kay was appointed head of the newly-formed Americas region in September 2009. Her responsibilities include sales and marketing, commercial operations, strategic planning and business development, and customer support and training for Amadeus' travel agency, travel supplier and specialty customers in the Americas.
Based in the company’s Miami regional headquarters, Kay directs Amadeus’ efforts in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Her role includes the regional oversight of Amadeus’ global business units serving travel industry customers including airlines, hotels, travel management companies, car rental companies, and cruise lines.
Prior to her current role, Kay was President and CEO, Amadeus North America from 2002. Before that, Kay served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Amadeus North America.
In 2001 and 2002, she held dual roles, also serving as Director of Global Customer Support for Amadeus worldwide, leveraging her global perspective and expertise across the company and sharing her time between corporate offices in Miami and Sophia Antipolis. Kay also served as Vice President of Customer Support and Operations where she was responsible for all activities that "touch" the Amadeus customer and initiated many leading-edge customer services such as online learning and support tools.
Kay began her travel industry career in 1977 as a reservations agent for Eastern Airlines and moved into her first managerial role as Manager of Customer Integration. She was on the ground floor of travel distribution when in 1982 she joined Industry Automation, which subsequently became computer reservation company, System One. Beginning in 1986 at System One, Kay held such positions as Manager of Strategic Planning for support and training and Director of Customer Support. She advanced through several executive management positions of increasing scope and responsibility, through System One's acquisition by Amadeus in 1997.
Kay has been named by Travel Agent Magazine as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Travel.” She has also served as an Advisory Board member for Travel Com Expo and was recognized by ACTE as a Distinguished Fellow. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University in Tallahassee.
