Windstar recruits former Hurtigruten EMEA head of sales

Former Hurtigruten EMEA head of sales Carla Hines has joined Windstar Cruises in a newly-created role.

She has been appointed as manager, sales operations and enablement, focused on making it easier for partners around the world to sell Windstar’s style of small-ship cruising.

Hines will support the company’s global commercial teams by improving sales processes, tools and systems as Windstar continues its international growth. 

She will be based in the UK and report to Windstar managing director, global commercial Helen Beck.

Prior to Hurtigruten, Hines spent time with Royal Caribbean International, initially as a senior trading executive before becoming head of sales administration EMEA.

Beck said: “Carla is joining the team at exactly the right time as we grow our global footprint and I’m excited for the contributions that her experience and knowledge bring us.  If we can make sales feel easier and faster for our teams and our partners, that’s a big win.”

Hines added: “Sales operations should make life easier, not more complicated. The opportunity here is to build things that people genuinely want to use, and that help our teams and partners sell with confidence without adding unnecessary layers.”

The timing aligns with fleet expansion and a total of eight ships sailing around the world.

Star Explorer will join the fleet in December, creating additional capacity and new itinerary opportunities for UK agents and their clients, with a naming in London in June 2027. 

Windstar returns sailing ship Wind Star back to Tahiti, joining Star Breeze in March 2027.