Fred Holidays, MSC Cruises and Lufthansa: this week’s travel trade people moves

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Fred Holidays, MSC Cruises and Lufthansa: this week’s travel trade people moves

Training

Ilaria Grasso Macola

9 October 2024

TTG’s weekly round-up of the latest appointments, promotions, restructurings and farewells from across the trade is the definitive digest of the travel trade people moves you need to know about.

People moves, 9 October, IGM — People moves include a reshuffling in the cruising world

Moves this week include a reshuffling in the cruise world with Fred Holidays appointing Danielle Bates to the newly-created role of head of UK sales. Bates, who had a five-year stint as Star Clippers’ head of trade sales, will be replaced by key account manager Nicola Cox, effective from 14 October.

Danny Paines, Altour’s former sales manager, has joined sister company Global Travel Collection (GTC) in the same capacity. In his new role, Paines will focus on attracting new independent travel advisors to GTC and will work alongside Andy Hampshaw, senior manager of revenue development.

Meanwhile MSC Cruises has expanded its trade team with three new hires and three promotions and Celestyal has made Rachel Wilton the new vice-president of revenue, product and shore experiences, while Florida-based ocean cruise specialist Atlas Ocean Voyages has launched the search for a new boss and an industry veteran has rejoined the sector.

Elsewhere Lufthansa has appointed a new UK&I general sales manager.

Here are the latest major travel trade hires, promotions and job moves over the past week (Wednesday 2 to Wednesday 9 October).

Have you recently made a new appointment or taken on a new role? Do you have some personnel news for us from your business or organisation? Drop us an email at feedback@ttgmedia.com

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Fred Holidays appoints Danielle Bates to newly-created role

Fred Holidays has appointed Danielle Bates to the newly-created role of head of UK sales, effective 14 October. As head of UK sales, Bates will manage the relationship between Lindblad Expeditions and Fred Holidays, focusing on increasing brand awareness while growing the market share for the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions co-brand. She will report to Fred Holidays director of tour operations Tricia Birmingham and Lindblad Expeditions vice-president of national, strategic and international accounts Christine Stevens.

MSC expands sales team with three new hires

MSC Cruises has expanded its sales and trade support teams in both the UK and Ireland with three new hires and three new promotions. In the UK, MSC has hired Charlotte Petrides as senior trade support executive as well as Zoe White and Jessica Pearson as trade support executives. All three will report directly to head of trade support and training Claire Smith. After nine years at the company, Danielle Weller has been promoted to senior regional sales manager for southern England, where she will continue to cement MSC’s position with the trade. Meanwhile in Ireland, Suzanne Rowe will become Explora Journeys' head of sales while Alana Byrne has been promoted to senior account manager.

Lufthansa names new UK&I sales general manager

Lufthansa has appointed Patrick Borg Hedley as its new sales general manager for the UK, Ireland and Iceland following the departure of Frank Wagner, who has taken up the position of head of regional sales in Berlin. In his new role, Hedley will be responsible for the commercial and sales activities of the Lufthansa group and will report to Sven Thaler, senior sales director for northern Europe.

Atlas Ocean Voyages looks for president as James Rodriguez steps down

Atlas Ocean Voyages has launched the search for a new boss following the departure of president and chief executive James A. Rodriguez, who will step down at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities. Over the past two years, Rodriguez has led the company through a period of sustained growth, expanding its offering beyond polar expeditions while strengthening its relationship with the trade. Atlas Ocean Voyages has nevertheless pledged to ensure a smooth transition and will aim to name a successor by the end of 2024.

Nicola Cox becomes Star Clippers' new head of trade sales

Star Clippers key account manager Nicola Cox has been promoted to head of trade sales effective 14 October. It follows the departure of Danielle Bates, who has become Fred Holidays' new head of UK sales. Cox, who has spent the past six years at Star Clippers, said her promotion will enable her “to put new ideas and initiatives into practice, whilst further strengthening” trade relationships.

Celestyal appoints new VP of revenue, product and shore experiences

Celestyal has appointed Rachel Wilton as vice-president of revenue, product and shore experiences, effective immediately. In her new role, Wilton will focus on developing pre and post-cruise experiences for agents, enhancing the excursion programme as Celestyal expands into new destinations. She will also execute the company’s revenue management and will report to chief commercial officer Lee Haslett.

Veteran returns to industry as Titan Travel's trade distribution boss

Former Virgin Voyages international sales vice-president Shane Lewis-Riley has been appointed to the newly created role of director of trade distribution at Titan Travel, effective 14 October. Lewis-Riley, who left Virgin Voyages last month after six years to “pursue new opportunities and challenges”, will shape Titan Travel’s trade strategy.

Former dnata UK chief joins Newmarket board

Ailsa Pollard, dnata's former UK and Europe chief, is set to join the board of Newmarket Holidays as a non-executive director. Pollard, who left dnata last year, joins the escorted touring specialist following an undisclosed investment from private equity Soho Square Capital. As part of the investment, L.E.K. Consulting senior partner Geoff Parkin will join as chair while co-funders Jeremy Griffin and Toni Frei, managing director Simon Hibbs and chief executive Niel Alobaidi will remain the majority shareholders.

Mark Sutton leaves PTS after five years

Mark Sutton has left Protected Trust Services (PTS) after five years at the company. Sutton, who joined PTS as commercial director in January 2020 before being promoted to managing director in 2022, praised the company and the results achieved in the past five years saying they were “nothing short of phenomenal”. “I’ve learned so much, drifted out of my comfort zone on many occasions, and the experiences gained have stood me in good stead for the future - whatever that looks like,” he said in a LinkedIn message. “Thank you to my colleagues who have made this journey possible and helped me along the way - your support has been invaluable. [...]Will not be disappearing from this industry.”

Danny Paines joins GTC as sales manager

Four Seasons Yachts appoints Shane Buksh as trade sales director

Four Seasons Yachts has appointed Seabourn’s former director of national accounts for North America, Shane Buksh, as its new director of trade sales. Effective 7 October, Buksh will be responsible for driving the company’s B2B strategy across several regions. An industry veteran with 26 years of experience, he has previously held roles at the likes of Royal Caribbean, Canadian Airlines and Holland America.