But what is interesting about Quigley’s so far nine-year career is that having spent more than two-thirds of it working for Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours and Emerald Cruises’ marketing teams, he’s now a vital cog within the group’s dual-branded trade sales team.

Today, Quigley is a key account manager, working every day with the likes of Panache Cruises, World Travel Holdings, Travel Counsellors and other leading travel agencies – and he’s absolutely loving it.

It begs the question, though, how does someone in marketing segue across into sales? “Between finishing my degree and graduation day, I had an interview for a trade marketing role at Scenic in 2016,” he recalls. “It felt like a natural step for me.

“After a few years, I jumped to Emerald Cruises and worked as a marketing executive. That was a B2C role, the first was B2B. I really enjoyed that trade marketing role, so when a sales manager role came up in early 2023 working in Andrea Stafford’s team [then-director of trade sales], I thought about what I wanted to do.

"I knew the team really well and I had experience of working with the trade in my previous marketing role. A few of the other sales managers said that I should go for it."

Quigley is unequivocal when he describes how the move has affected his professional life. “It has changed my career,” he says. “Everything happens for a reason. I became a key account manager across both brands at the start of the year. We currently have the biggest field team we’ve ever had.”

‘Never burn a bridge’

Unsurprisingly, when asked what he would say to the younger generation weighing up a career in travel, Quigley says tomorrow’s talent should have “an open mind” and “use every resource available” to them.

“Remember, everyone knows everyone in travel,” he says, with a smile. “Don’t be afraid to ask people for advice.” He then quickly adds: “Also, never burn a bridge.”

One “bridge” that has remained strong is the one that links Quigley with Scenic and Emerald Cruises’ head of trade sales, Jonathan Davies. Davies joined the group as a sales manager a year before Quigley made the internal move across from marketing.

“The best thing about my job is the people I work with – not just at Scenic Group, but everybody I work with outside the company,” Quigley says. “Jonathan is a great guy. He has followed a similar career path to me and has really helped me along the way.”

Davies often tells his younger colleague: “People buy off people.” It is a phrase Quigley regularly returns to.

Quigley says one day – not any time soon – he would like to become the group’s head of trade sales, stepping into the shoes that Davies currently fills and Stafford once did too. “I love the brands and the product,” he explains. “At the moment, I’m happy, but in the future, I would like to step up as the head of sales team.

“We’re building more and more ships so who knows what opportunities will come up in the future.

‘Imposter syndrome’

As the group’s fleets expand, Quigley has found he has given been given more and more responsibility. Despite working at Scenic for nearly nine years, Quigley says the biggest project he’s worked on was at this year’s Clia RiverView conference.

Scenic hosted hundreds of agents onboard Scenic Opal at the three-day event in Budapest and took 130 trade partners on a fam trip sailing around the conference.

“We showcased the product brilliantly,” says Quigley. “I helped decide which agents to invite, the format of the fam and the way it flowed. That’s the best example probably of a major project I’ve worked on.”

Quigley also took part in a panel discussion during one of the on-stage sessions at the conference. Public speaking is not a task Quigley finds easy, but like at other points of his career, he throws himself into it.

In 2023, a “nervous” Quigley appeared on a panel at another Clia event for the first time. “I had a bit of imposter syndrome,” he says. “I knew the product inside out, but it was a new role. It was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been.

"Some people are very confident and can speak off the cuff. Generally, I like to prepare in depth for everything.

"I always try to remember, when I’m speaking to agents, how amazing our products are for their customers and try to leave the agents with three key takeaways, so they have clear focus when speaking to their clients. I do quite a bit of research and I speak to a few people beforehand.”

When I ask how both panel appearances went, Quigley replies: “I might have had one or two drinks after." I can only assume his points landed with agents in the room.

It is clear that even though the route ahead has not always been clear, Quigley sticks to what works for him: hard work, preparation and having an open mind.

Almost nine years after securing an interview with the Scenic Group, having just completed his degree, few could argue this approach has not been a successful one.