Reast brings more than 15 years’ sales experience to the role, having joined Carnival UK in 2009 as a Personal Cruise Expert in its Contact Centre. 

In 2021, he was appointed as a Partnerships Executive at Cunard, which enabled him to develop relationships with travel advisors and contribute to driving more than £1 million in sales. 

In his new position, Reast will offer agents within his region personalised training, sales assistance and business planning.

He will also focus on nurturing relationships with new partners looking to expand their cruise offering and introduce more customers to the luxury cruise line.

The update comes just one day after Cunard sparked a wave of industry debate with the news of Queen Anne’s move to P&O Cruises. 

Reast said he is “delighted” to take on the new role, having “seen first-hand the vital role agents play in helping guests discover Cunard.” 

This enthusiasm was echoed by Iain Baillie, Associate Vice President of EMEA Sales at Cunard: “Gareth's appointment reflects both his passion for supporting travel agents and the strength of talent within Cunard. 

"Over the past five years, he has built excellent relationships across the trade and earned a reputation as a trusted and valued partner to many agents.”

Baille added that Reast’s “experience, energy and understanding of the market make him ideally placed to support agents across the south of England".