The new roles, as well as a further seven new positions in the US, have been created to ensure the new luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group can "work effectively" with its travel partners to "maximise" commercial opportunities.

The new additions include former Quark Expeditions business development manager Andrew Schweitzer, who will become UK and Ireland business relationship lead based in London. 

Natalie Dorrington will take up the role of global trade marketing expert based in London and Suzanne Kochen will base in Amsterdam as the line’s new head of sales for northern Europe.

Paul Potrykus, formerly with Rosewood Hotels and Resorts as director of global sales, will become head of sales for southern Europe based in Madrid, and ex-Seabourn and Holland America Line sales representative Daniel Zink has been appointed business relationship lead DACH, based in Cologne.

Meanwhile, former Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea key account manager and regional sales manager Gabriele Cornalba will take up the business relationship lead position and Sophia Weiss, former Royal Caribbean sales admin executive, will become sales excellence specialist based in Geneva. 

Chris Austin, chief sales officer for Explora Journeys, said: "All these new appointments in our commercial team have deep luxury hospitality experience, are very well known, highly respected and have an unwavering commitment to the luxury travel advisor community.

"They are passionate and proactive consultative sellers, highly responsive to any advisor request, and are totally focused on mutual success."