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Greece-based Celestyal Cruises has hired three business development managers (BDMs) to work with Canadian and U.S. agents and tour operators.
“The U.S., of course, is a huge source market for us,” said Gordon Dirker, Celestyal’s vice president of business development in the Americas. “I would say close to 35% to 40% of our customers are Americans, and we want to build on that and grow the company.”
To further that goal, Celestyal opened an office in Miami last year and started building a sales and marketing team dedicated to North America.
The three BDMs are Andrae Roberts-Dukes in Baltimore, covering the Northeast and Eastern Canada; Maria Triantos in Chicago covering the central region of the U.S.; and Ryan Campbell in Seattle covering the Western U.S. and Canada. All three report to Dirker.
Robert-Dukes comes from Trafalgar/Brendan Vacations/Costsaver and has also been a BDM for Unique Vacations.
Triantos was most recently Midwest regional sales manager for Mayflower Cruises and Tours. Campbell joins Celestyal from Premier World DIscovery, where he was a district sales manager.
“We need a team that knocks on the doors and works with agents to drive sales,” Dirker said. “I would say close to 95% of our business is through agents or through the] trade, so that’s where we like to build.”
Dirker predicted Celestyal will double its business over the next several years. The cruise line will look to acquire more ships if expansion plans are successful.
“This past season was a fantastic season,” he said. “We had a very successful and profitable year. And if we can maintain that pace, then the ownership is going to be very keen to write some checks, hopefully.”
Celestyal’s fleet has two mid-sized vessels, the Celestyal Crystal and the Celestyal Olympia. The ships sail itineraries to Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.
The cruise line this month announced a suite refurbishment for the Crystal, overhauling its 43 junior balcony suites and 16 suites. Renovations will overhaul furnishings, fixtures and carpeting, and are slated to be completed before 2019 spring and summer sailings. A suite refurbishment was completed on the Olympia two years ago.
Source: travelweekly.com
 to work with Canadian and U.S. agents and tour operators. "Pin It")