Royal reveals UK sales shake-up Harry Kemble
Royal Caribbean’s new Europe boss says a major restructure of its parent company has created a “kick-ass sales machine”. From April 1, Royal Caribbean
Cruises brands Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara will operate independently. The shake-up has seen 55 of
300 jobs based at the UK office in Weybridge, Surrey, lost as departments such as revenue management and direct business move to the company’s Miami HQ. Ben Bouldin has been appointed
vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, reporting into Sean Treacy, who has become Royal Caribbean International’s senior
Ben Bouldin Torey Kings-Hodkin Stuart Byron A reshuffled UK and Ireland
trade sales team will remain in Weybridge. Former Thomas Cook head of
vice-president, international, in place of Gavin Smith, who is now heading the company’s Australia and New Zealand division. Bouldin, who was vice-president
and managing director UK & Ireland, said the 55 non-sales jobs being axed would be phased out over eight months. Insights director Stuart Byron has taken on a new role of senior director of managed markets
and will oversee the UK, Ireland, Spain, Norway and Sweden. Byron’s team includes Nicki Lewis, who has been promoted to head of sales administration and trade marketing. Stuart Leven, formerly vice-
president EMEA and managing director of Royal Caribbean Cruises, is now in a project manager role and will ensure each market has the “right level of support” from Miami, Bouldin said.
commercial partnerships Torey Kings-Hodkin is to join Royal Caribbean as head of key accounts on February 10, leading a team of six key account managers, set to grow to seven. She will replace Donna Carley and will “mentor and coach” new head of field sales Karen Tucker. Bouldin said: “This [restructure]
has been driven by three key things: a desire to have a real trade-focused business model; to enable centralisation of non-sales functions; and to enable the brands to go single-branded worldwide. We are essentially a kick-ass sales machine across the EMEA region.”
Virus spurs FCO to advise against travel to China
Juliet Dennis
The Foreign Office this week warned against all but essential travel to mainland China in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Chinese authorities put in place
further restrictions to contain the virus, which had claimed more than 100 lives by Tuesday. The FCO said “it may become harder over the coming weeks” for Britons to leave China. Part of the Great Wall of China,
4 30 JANUARY 2020
the Forbidden City, Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland were closed before the change in advice, which does not warn against travel to Hong Kong or Macao. Before the update, the UK trade
had been largely optimistic the situation would be resolved by the time most group tours depart in spring despite the FCO warning against travel to the Hubei province, which includes the city of Wuhan. Wendy Wu Tours’ next group tours depart in late February. Clients due
to travel next month can cancel or postpone free of charge. Speaking before the FCO update, founder Wendy Wu said: “We feel confident that by the time our tours start, everything will be back to normal.” Abercrombie & Kent, which was
advising customers to wear surgical masks, said: “We are hopeful the issue can be can resolved before the spring travel season begins.” Kuoni was reviewing tours due to
depart in the next two months. Exodus Travels and Titan Travel
Passengers have their
temperature taken at an airport in Hunan,China
both said they could reroute planned tours in Hubei in March. British Airways offered full
refunds and rebooking until February 23 and Singapore Airlines waived cancellation fees for tickets issued before January 24 for travel until February 29. Ex-Shanghai sailings due
this week on Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas and MSC Cruises’ MSC Splendida were cancelled before the FCO updated its advice.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Charles Sturge; Phil Gammon
PICTURE: Reuters/Thomas Peter
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