Celebrity Cruises bolsters sales team with four appointments

Celebrity Cruises has bolstered its sales team with four appointments after completing an internal review into how it supports travel agents.

As the line announced a suite of new tools and resources to help agents, it confirmed the appointments of a new business development manager Matthew Stuart had joined from Club Med where he was a senior account manager, while former Hays Travel regional manager Charlotte Hallam joins as field sales manager.

Former Tui retail store manager Jessica Trickett has become regional sales manager for the northwest and east and Victoria Snelgar has joined as sales planning and activation manager.

Trickett aims to maximise agents’ sales and earning potential across Celebrity Cruises’ holidays in her role.

The line said Snelgar has “a wealth of knowledge and innovative thinking” gained from her previous travel roles, including at The UK Shipping Concierge, which provides support to maritime businesses looking to enter the UK market.

In April, Celebrity pledged to “go back to basics” and re-evaluate how it managed travel partner accounts after business development manager Jonny Peat and strategic account manager Ruth Gardiner left the line.

Claire Stirrup, UK and Ireland sales director, said: “We’re always looking to support the trade in the best way. Whenever we have a vacancy, we always look to take a step back and see how to fill that role.

“[Recruits] have got to be able to work with the sales team, the wider Celebrity team and of course trade partners as well.”

Meanwhile, Ros Nigrelli returns from maternity leave to take up her trade support manager role and field sales manager Mandy Burrie has been promoted to strategic account manager.

Following three regional focus groups, each attended by around 20 agents, the line has reintroduced Celebrity Reward points for every agent booking including cabin grades below balcony accommodation. A fourth focus group will be held in Scotland next month.

During a “mini-wave” campaign, agents can earn £5 when booking an Inside or Oceanview stateroom as well as £10 for Balcony, Concierge or Aquaclass bookings.

They can also earn £20 when booking cabins in The Retreat and accommodation for the line’s Galapagos sailings.

Reward points can be redeemed against reloadable Mastercards, onboard gifts for clients and donations to industry charities such as Reuben’s Retreat and Abta LifeLine.

For the first time since 2018, the line will send out its first printed brochure, filled with brand and product information, based on trade feedback. The printed version will be available in September following the release of the digital version this month.

“There’s more information on [onboard suite area] The Retreat and what guests can do beforehand,” Stirrup added. “There are no prices, only lead-in prices, as well as more information on the ship and destinations.”

Celebrity has also improved its digital selling guide featuring ship fact sheets, deck plans and 2023 itineraries.

The guide is available to download from the homepage of the line’s agent portal, Celebrity Central, which will be given “a new look and feel”, Celebrity said.

“The reason why we have done this is there are a lot of new staff [at agencies],” she said. “The guide is something that goes hand in hand and it’s really easy to use for reference.”

A new sales campaign, which launches today (August 4), offering a 60% saving on the second guest and up to $200 onboard credit person on all bookings made by September 21.

The 60% discount will also apply to the fourth guests when booking a room for four people.

Pictured (clockwise from top left): Charlotte Hallam; Matthew Stuart; Jessica Trickett; and Victoria Snelgar