New hires: July/August

A-Rosa expands its UK team with new executive assistant

A-Rosa river cruises has appointed Olivia Stephens (pictured above, right) in the newly created role of executive assistant. It is the first appointment made in the UK since the line entered the UK market.

Stephens’ role will support Lucia Rowe (pictured above, left), head of A-Rosa UK & Ireland, and she will be responsible for liaising with both tour operator partners and travel agents on regular basis, hosting training sessions, attending trade shows and more.

Overall, the aim is to grow the visibility of A-Rosa and its products to help increase sales in all market segments. With new owners, a new ship under construction and further fleet expansion plans, this appointment forms part of A-Rosa’s ongoing growth strategy.

Nicky Foot joins Norwegian Cruise Line as business development director  as the company looks to continue growth in UK and Ireland markets

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the appointment of Nicky Foot as business development director, UK & Ireland.

She joins the team based in Southampton and will report to Nick Wilkinson, vice president & managing director UK & Ireland and MEA.

Foot has more than 30 years of sales and travel experience, most recently as a director at Groupon and before that as the UK regional sales director at Living Social Escapes.

She said: “I’m excited to be joining Norwegian Cruise Line and driving forward the business at such an exciting and pivotal time. Norwegian is an innovative and contemporary brand and I look forward to working with Nick and the business development team to help drive greater success.”

Nick Wilkinson added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome  Nicky to the team at Norwegian Cruise Line. Her extensive  experience and strategic focus  will ensure that we continue to
grow our UK and Ireland markets  at a time when we are also growing our fleet, with Norwegian Encore coming in 2019.”

Riviera Travel expands agency sales team

Riviera Travel has recruited its sixth agency sales team member. Emma Rodgers joined as sales development manager, north. She will be field-based, looking after agents in the north of England and Scotland. This is the first time the company has had a dedicated regional point of contact for travel agents in the north.

Amanda Darrington  leaves Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean UK & Ireland sales director Amanda Darrington has left the company after just over a year.

She will be replaced in the short-term by Royal Caribbean’s insights director Stuart Byron, who joined the cruise line just six months ago.

Royal Caribbean’s UK & Ireland managing director Ben Bouldin said Darrington was departing “to pursue personal projects”.

He said Byron would take on the sales remit for the next six months, in addition to his insights brief, until a permanent replacement for Darrington is found.