Celebrity Cruises treated agent partners to a night with the stars at Keith Duffy’s 7th Annual Masquerade Ball in aid of Irish Autism Action at the Powerscourt Hotel last week.
Michael English, Celebrity Cruises’ Head of Sales UK & Ireland, joined Jennifer Callister, Major Account Manager Ireland & Northern Ireland, to host a table with agents, including Eimer Miley, Tour America; Will Walsh and Kevin Miley, The Travel Broker; Michael Plunkett and Ger Hurley, Cassidy Travel; and Leila Mamane and Roie Mamanae, Trailfinders; and their partners.
Michael English met Keith Duffy earlier in the year when Celebrity Cruises supported fellow Boyzone member Ronan Keating’s annual Marie Keating Foundation golf classic at the K Club. Michael agreed to support Keith’s work with Irish Autism Action by donating a cruise for the auction.
Several of the agents at the event were lucky winners of a prize draw to win an invitation for the evening. For details of other events, agent incentives and consumer offers, see the new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CelebrityTravelAgents and www.cruisingpower.ie
New Director of Marketing & PR for UK and Ireland
Meanwhile, Celebrity Cruises has appointed Toby Shaw in the newly created role of Director of Marketing and PR for the UK and Ireland. Toby will lead an 11-strong marketing and PR team dedicated to the brand. This follows a decision by parent company RCL Cruises Ltd to evolve its UK and Ireland business structure in response to business growth.
Toby brings with him 12 years of marketing experience having held senior roles at Sony Europe and Heineken, including pan-European roles such as partnership work with the James Bond franchise and FIFA. He joins the new Celebrity Cruises senior leadership team headed up by Jo Rzymowska. Toby will be supported by Head of PR Louise James, Brand Manager Naomi Fisher, e-Commerce Marketing Manager Alice Johnson, and a 1-2-1 marketing manager.
Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity Cruises’ Managing Director, UK and Ireland, said: “As Celebrity Cruises continues to evolve as a brand we are developing the business to meet our growing targets. The new marketing and PR team, headed by Toby Shaw, comes as part of a new structure that sees extensive investment and will lead to some very exciting campaigns for us. His experience of consumer brands is sure to be a great asset for us as we continue our strive to grow the market share of cruise in the broader holiday sector. I am excited to be working alongside someone with his knowledge, creativity and strategic thinking.”
From 1st January 2014 there will be three dedicated businesses each working solely on the Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International or Azamara Club Cruises brands. Previously, team members have been tri-branded.
The new team exclusive to the Celebrity Cruises brand also sees a dedicated 16-strong sales team headed up by Nicki Tempest Mitchell as Director of Sales and supported by Head of Sales Michael English. The newly-appointed Tryphavana Cross will provide dedicated sales support for Irish trade partners when she soon takes up the role of Business Development Manager, Ireland.
