Lindy Andrews is suing Luxperience
and founder Helen Logas. Luxperience is seen as the ultimate in travel
trade shows, attracting buyers from around the world to view the experiential
and luxury experiences that are on offer in Australia. The forum, which opens
in Sydney on Sunday, will last four days and culminate in a black tie
event starring TV travel guru Tom Williams.
But
some of the gloss of the exclusive event has worn off after a
falling out between two of the big names in the travel industry, former
Luxperience chief executive Lindy Andrews and Luxperience
founder Helen Logas.
As the
events get under way this week, the details of the dispute will be
unfolding in the District Court.
Ms
Andrews is suing Ms Logas and Helen Logas Luxperience for breach of
contract, damages and costs totaling more than $500,000. The
matter is listed for a pre-trial conference next week.
Ms
Logas told Fairfax Media she was unable to comment while the matter was
before the court. However, she did say "we intend to vigorously defend the
court action".
Ms
Andrews, who has had a 25-year career in travel, has filed a statement of claim
saying she had turned down a significant and well paid role with another
high-profile business to join Ms Logas.
The
deal that she claims lured her away from the other job was an annual
salary plus a stake in the business.
Ms Andrews said
if things went well with the business events the agreement was that
she would take over the day-to-day running of the business, allowing
Ms Logas to return to New York and get on with her personal life, while she would build
up the business, prepare it for sale and would receive 10 per cent of
the sale.
Ms
Andrews claims she turned the business around and lifted profits
within 18 months. But despite her performance Ms Andrews said Ms
Logas terminated her contract without notice and without any prior
warning.
Ms
Andrews has said in a statement of claim filed in the court that she
believed her contract was terminated because of a change in Ms
Logas' personal circumstances, which meant she wanted to spend more
time in Australia and step back into the role of chief executive.
The
statement of claim also said the termination of her contract was done with the
intention of depriving her of benefits.
