Two former Disney and Crystal Cruises sales chiefs have been brought on board by Princess Cruises to drive bookings.
Cal Almaguer, with more than 20 years at Disney Destinations, joins in the new role of senior vice president, sales and service strategy and operations.
Carmen Roig becomes new vice president of sales, having previously spent the past six years heading marketing and sales for Crystal Cruises before its Chinese parent company filed to be wound up in January.
Roig started her career with Carnival Cruise Line in 1981 and also previously held sales roles with Azamara and Costa Cruises.
Almaguer will oversee all Princess sales and vacation product distribution channels as well as the company’s contact centre operations, reporting to president John Padgett.
Almaguer previously led the US sales force supporting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii. He also ran operations for Disney’s contact centres and travel company operations.
His cruise background also has included sales roles with Norwegian Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises, prior to joining Disney Cruise Line as a member of the launch team.
Padgett said: “The addition of two exceptional sales, service and operations leaders like Cal and Carmen demonstrates our commitment to providing best-in-class service to the travel trade while modernising the Princess omni-channel sales capabilities that will expose Princess to broader audiences and drive cruise bookings.
“Under their leadership, Princess will elevate sales performance through unmatched trade relations and the deployment of new sales tool innovations in partnership with our Princess Experience and Innovation development team.”
John Chernesky will become a Princess brand champion via social media after 29 years with the company, seven of those overseeing travel agency sales.