Seabourn has hailed the creation of a dedicated UK team as it reported a strong start to the ‘wave’ peak booking season.
In February 2022, a management restructure within the Holland America Line Group saw Lynn Narraway take up an expanded role at Seabourn as vice-president for Europe and the UK.
A dedicated UK team, focused solely on Seabourn, has been created over the past year, with new recruits and internal promotions.
Narraway told a Travel Weekly webcast that Seabourn has seen “a great start to the year” following a successful Black Friday sale in November.
“Our wave campaign has got off to a great start. We’ve up to 15% of our ocean itineraries and 25% off expedition [cruises],” she said.
She said there were “lots of assets” for travel partners – such as social videos, personalised emails and e-brochures to over-brand – to help them promote the wave campaign called ‘The Suite Life’.
“November was the best month in Seabourn’s record for the number of guests booked for ’23 and ’24 sailings,” she said.
“We’re hoping that the wave campaign is going as well.”
Wendy Lahmich, sales director, told the webcast: “Looking at the figures over the last couple of weeks, it started really, really well. It is showing amazing signs.”
She also hailed the “phenomenal response” from agents, many of whom attended a Seabourn lunch event in December.
“The new team, which is solely dedicated to Seabourn, is hopefully making that impact and making a difference in those numbers, which is great to see,” she added.
She said Dani Scannella has been promoted to senior business development manager, to support Lahmich.
New business development manager Claire Rose joined the team in October, bringing with her experience from working for Princess Cruises, a sister brand within the Carnival Corporation.
Charlotte Pinkus, business development representative, has been promoted to assistant business development manager; Lorena Tonita has joined as product pricing and demand specialist; and Adam Scholey has been promoted to marketing executive, reporting to Carly Perkins, marketing manager for HAL and Seabourn UK.
Narraway said teams from both brands are still located next to each other, so they are able to collaborate but added: “This is the first time I’ve ever had one brand and it is amazing what a difference it makes.”
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