Azamara’s International Chief Sales Officer David Siewers reassured travel agents at the inaugural meeting of its new partner advisory panel that the UK remains important to the cruise line, despite no longer having a UK Managing Director.
The last MD, David Duff, left Azamara on 12 September after 17 years with the company as part of an internal reorganisation.
In future, the UK team will report to Miami-based International Chief Sales Officer David Siewers.
Addressing its UK trade partners at a lunch this week, David Siewers described David Duff as ‘an incredible icon’. Acknowledging that his departure ‘might be seen as a reduction in resources’, he said the intention was to ‘shorten the bridge’ between the UK and Miami, where Azamara has its head office.
“We want to make sure that the UK voice is heard,” he added.
Around 40% of Azamara’s business is international, half of which is from the UK, and 90% of these passengers book through travel agents, said David.
As a sign of the importance of the UK market, the cruise line has brought back its partner advisory panel, which consists of representative from 10 of its biggest UK travel agent partners.
The panel will meet twice a year, including once in person, and occasionally on an ad hoc basis if they ‘have a big idea’.
David said Azamara was ‘on an amazing path’, but added: “This advisory panel is crucial to making sure we stay on the right path.”
The cruise line’s new Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Kauffman flew into London for the first in-person meeting of the Advisory Panel, which includes representatives from Iglu, Fred Olsen Travel, ROL, Trailfinders, Panache Cruises, Advantage Travel Partnership, Gold Medal, Hays Travel and World Travel Holdings.
“I am really pleased that I can be here for the first panel meeting; the message to the trade is how important they are to us, we want them in,” said Lisa.
“We want to be considered the most trade-friendly brand and the best partner for them.”
