Travelers Haven Announces promotes Carlos Abisambra to president, CEO

Elia Wallen and Carlos Abisambra. 

Corporate housing company Travelers Haven founder Elia Wallen stepped down as the company’s president and chief executive officer (CEO) and will transition to chairman of the new Board of Directors. Wallen will focus his efforts on the continued growth of Hotel Engine, the sister company to Travelers Haven, as its President and CEO. Carlos Abisambra, who previously served as chief strategy officer (CSO), was promoted to president and CEO of Travelers Haven.

“While working hand-in-hand with Carlos over the last three years, in his role as chief strategy officer, Travelers Haven experienced tremendous growth while expanding and diversifying our client base. Truly, I cannot imagine anyone better to continue the momentum of this amazing company. While I will undoubtedly miss our dedicated and talented team and the energy at Travelers Haven on a day-to-day basis, I will remain involved as chairman of the Board. We have so much in store for 2020. With this transition, I'm excited to focus my full attention on the rapid growth of Hotel Engine as CEO and president,” Wallen says. 

As President and CEO, Abisambra will remain focused on scalable growth for Travelers Haven through organic growth within key verticals and new inorganic growth opportunities. There will be a continued emphasis on enhancing the end-to-end customer experience and expanding the digital booking capabilities of the company. 

“I am truly honored to lead such an extraordinary company, after almost three years of working at Travelers Haven, it has become my professional home. I’ve met fantastic colleagues, amazing customers, and remarkable suppliers that make our ecosystem work. I am humbled to have the opportunity to take Travelers Haven to the next progression of its evolution and look forward to surpassing our goals in 2020 and beyond,” Abisambra says.

As CSO, Carlos streamlined and improved marketing efforts, build out a strategic sourcing and supply team, converted the Customer Support department’s approach to proactive problem solving and revamped the Human Resources department. Prior to joining Travelers Haven Abisambra was a business manager for Amazon and the CEO of Vortice Services. Carlos is a Harvard Business School MBA graduate he received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University.

A Board of Directors for Travelers Haven is also being created to help the company successfully continue its growth path and avoid preventable landmines that can be typical for fast growing companies. Wallen will become Chairman of the Board. The company is seeking experienced board members to join the new Board of Directors with three distinct profiles that can enhance the knowledge-base of ourexecutive leadership team: sales and customer care, operational, financial scalability and efficiency, product and technology.

About Travelers Haven

Founded in 2008, Travelers Haven is a corporate housing company. The Denver-based, full-service housing firm manages every aspect of the short-term housing process saving clients money, time and stress. According to the annual Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA) report, Travelers Haven saves businesses an average of 34% compared to its competitors. In 2018 alone, the team’s housing experts connected over 20,000 guests with customized lodging solutions across rural and urban areas. Travelers Haven offers the best rates in the industry, unparalleled customer support, and a complete suite of tools and features to inform and optimize every housing need.