Crystal Cruises has created two new roles for a National Account Manager and a Business Development Specialist.
The National Account Manager role replaces the Regional Sales Manager role, which was held by Danny Giles until last month.
Reporting to Senior Sales Manager UK & Ireland Stephen Joyner, the new NAM will be a ‘commercially-aware strategic role’ to manage a portfolio of accounts, said Crystal Vice President of UK and EMEA Sales Luke Smith.
He said they will be responsible for ‘creating and implementing strategies to grow the business across all of their portfolio channels, coming up with new and innovative ideas to engage the trade and consumers with the Crystal product and drive growth in this market’.
The appointment of a Business Development Specialist brings the UK into line with the structure in the US, said Crystal.
Based in the London office and reporting directly to Luke, they will be responsible for training and engaging new accounts, including homeworker accounts; managing events, including ship visits and fam trips; and growing smaller accounts and encouraging them to become regular bookers.
The new BDS will also assist with some back-office support for agents in the UK and EMEA.
Once filled, Crystal’s trade sales team will have four members in the UK, supported by the Miami office.
Crystal has also revealed this week that its new ship – its first new build for 25 years – will be called Crystal Grace.
The 650-passenger ship is scheduled for delivery in May 2028, and its first sailing will depart on 11 June that year.
Details of Crystal Grace’s suite categories will be announced in December, with additional news on the inaugural voyages, design features and new onboard offerings unveiled in the coming months.
