Ella Sagar


MSC to expand team ‘for all agents’ 20


MSC Cruises will expand and restructure its sales team to ensure it can “support all areas of agent businesses”, its new UK head of sales has revealed. Alyshia Bartlett (pictured) has


been promoted from head of retail, homeworking and tour operations to the role and will look to bolster the team with recruitment for three new roles starting soon. Speaking on a Travel Weekly


webcast, Bartlett said: “Agents are not a one-size-fits-all approach. There are so many different elements to their business that we need to


ensure we are supporting all parts. If we had a dedicated team for homeworking, it might not suit an agent who covers homeworking, retail and online, so we need to make sure we have a team that can support all areas of their businesses.” The new additions will be a national account manager to support larger key partners, a field sales manager to look after six regional sales managers and new partnerships, and a new trade support manager,


making a 19-strong UK trade team. Bartlett said these changes reflect


the “very fast growth” in trade sales in the UK, which has outpaced other source markets.


Koster to succeed Weiss as CEO of Virgin Atlantic


Robin Murray


Shai Weiss is to leave his position as chief executive of Virgin Atlantic on December 31, following a seven-year tenure. Chief customer and operating


officer Corneel Koster will be promoted to the role from January 1. Weiss joined Virgin Atlantic as


executive vice-president and chief financial officer in July 2014 from Virgin Management, where he had worked since 2012. In January 2017, he assumed the


role of executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, going on


6 16 OCTOBER 2025


to be promoted to chief executive in January 2019. Weiss said: “I leave Virgin Atlantic


full of pride, knowing I have played a part in its bright red history. Together, we’ve transformed through the pandemic and emerged faster, better and stronger than ever. “We are well on our way to


achieving our mission of becoming the most-loved travel company, having laid the foundations for a world of exciting opportunities as a premium flag-carrier.” Koster rejoined Virgin Atlantic in 2019 as a board member and chief customer officer, before expanding


his role to chief customer and operating officer in 2020. He had previously left in 2013, taking up roles at Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines. Virgin Atlantic said he had been


“instrumental in running a safe and reliable operation, leading frontline teams and delivering Virgin Atlantic’s renowned customer experience”. Koster said: “I’ve long held a very


special place in my heart for Virgin Atlantic, so it’s an incredible privilege to take up the role of chief executive. “I’d like to thank the Virgin


Atlantic board for their trust and confidence and to thank Shai for his leadership and his friendship. I’m


The operator plans to hold 20


Events planned for new MSC Connections


“We have grown so much over


the last few years, and that’s mainly in the UK with our ships based out of Southampton,” she said. “We have 23 ships with so many


different destinations, so the growth potential for agent partners is huge.” Bartlett revealed the line was set to


launch a series of events called MSC Connections, enabling agents to make one-on-one, face-to-face appointments with regional sales managers.


MSC Connections events nationwide in late November and throughout December for agents to speak to the MSC trade team about wave opportunities, growing their business or training needs. Bartlett said the new events were


designed to give frontline staff the chance to ask their regional sales managers questions they “might not want to ask in front of bigger crowds”. Looking ahead to the wave period,


Bartlett said the line was planning incentives with opportunities for agents to win places on board. Next year, MSC will expand


its ship visit programme and give agents the opportunity to experience speciality dining on board.


Shai Weiss and Corneel Koster (inset)


proud to lead our talented teams into our next chapter.” He added: “We will deliver


value for our customers, people, shareholders and the communities we serve, while ensuring Virgin Atlantic remains the airline that dares to do things differently.” Sir Richard Branson, founder of


Virgin Atlantic, said Weiss had “done an outstanding job over the years”. He added: “I’m delighted to


welcome Corneel as chief executive. He embodies the Virgin spirit – bold, curious and ready to shake up the status quo. We look forward to this exciting new chapter.”


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURES: Adam Geraerarrd


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