Royal Caribbean expands UK and Ireland sales force

Dedicated sales teams are being created for individual brands within the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines portfolio in the UK and Ireland.

The overall sales force is being expanded by 30% with an additional eight staff.

This will create a dedicated sales team for each of the company’s major brands – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises. 

The new structure from April 1 will also create a new business development function.

The additional roles include a sales director and head of business development, as well as key sales positions.

Celebrity Cruises will have a dedicated sales team for the premium brand and Azamara Cruises. 

A new head of national accounts will oversee two national account managers and an increased team of seven key account managers dedicated to “aggressively growing business” with all national accounts across all three brands, according to the company.

The new sales director will oversee the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises field sales teams, national accounts sales team, and the sales support function. This role will report into Jo Rzymowska, managing director UK & Ireland.

A new four-strong business development team, including a new head, will focus on providing commercial insight into the multiple sales channels that the line supports. 

This will include ensuring that each channels’ maximum potential is reached via the most cost-effective route. They will also enhance return-on-investment measurements across all activity and support the sales teams in developing strategically powerful co-operative marketing campaigns, according to the company 

The changes come in advance of Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, making its summer debut in Southampton, and the November delivery of new Celebrity ship Celebrity Solstice.

Rzymowska said: “Over the last two years it has been no secret that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has been aggressively growing its market presence and sales performance.

“In early 2006 we doubled our sales team in the UK and Ireland and have made ongoing improvements to how we support our travel partners.

“We kick-off 2008 with a hugely positive development, increasing and redefining our teams so that they are dedicated to a brand or specific channel.

“We also know that Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises have the potential to be far bigger brands in the UK & Ireland and believe that providing key trade partners with a dedicated Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises sales team will be mutually beneficial.”

by Phil Davies