Azamara has restructured its UK-based sales team “to bolster market growth and generate greater confidence amongst trade partners” in the region.

The changes see David Duff, formerly international commercial director, promoted to UK managing director.

In this new position, Duff will focus his efforts on developing the UK market, driving growth, and providing visible market leadership, the line said.

He will manage the UK team across all departments and work closely with the global teams based in Miami, which provide operational, day-to-day support to all international markets.

Duff will be supported by Lee Surman, who will step into a new role as head of partnerships and trading, taking over the commercial support to all markets, building new strategic partnerships and handling the day-to-day commercial needs of the international team.

Meanwhile, Stuart Pearce assumes the new position of head of trade sales UK and will oversee the UK sales strategy.

Azamara said: “Stuart will be responsible for driving sales and responding to the challenging needs of the market, enabling us to reach more of the smaller independent agencies and consortia members”.

Pearce will be hiring two new business development managers to bolster his team, while Nikki Singletonwill take on a greater focus on the top strategic accounts nationally, and Lori Scannellareturns to deliver UK and EMEA support in her role as sales support manager. 

Carol Cabezas, president of Azamara, said: “We recognise the integral role that ‘on the ground’ sales teams have on market performance and the value of their relationships with local trade partners.

“By introducing new team structures with targeted focuses, such as that in the UK, and with a surge of new hires around the world, we are offering more support to trade partners globally and driving forward our international growth”.

Duff added: “This is a really exciting moment for Azamara in the UK. The UK proves to be a leading market for us year-on-year, and now with a reinforced sales team, we can expand our reach even further, visit more travel partners and distribute products across more channels.

“We just had our best year on record in the UK, and with demand for cruising still strong, we are confident that these changes will set the foundations for further success in 2023 and beyond”.

Richard Stanbridge will assume a new role as trade and guests services manager, international, based in London, to support the line’s trade partners and guests.