Scenic Group has appointed Shane Lewis-Riley to the newly created role of Director of Trade Sales and Partnerships.
Shane will lead the trade sales team for the group, which encompasses Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises. He joins from Titan Travel, where he was Director of Trade Distribution.
His new role will involve working closely with agent partners while also driving new ideas and generating incremental business through strategic partnership opportunities.
Shane starts his new role in June and joins recently appointed Marketing Directors Laura Gerrard, formerly of Merlin Entertainments, and Jane Witherington, previously with Mamas & Papas.
Scenic said the team, together with long-standing Digital Director Eleni Kettles, ‘will form a strengthened director-level structure’. They will all report Managing Director Nichola Absalom and will be based in Manchester.
Nichola said: “We are really excited to be building a team that will take the UK business to the next level. Shane’s vast experience, his strong reputation within the industry, and his tenacious approach to driving sales make him a fantastic addition.
“This is a pivotal time for growth in the UK, with a significant opportunity to increase market share and drive sales as we expand our fleet, destinations and overall choice for our guests.
“We are seeing growing demand for alternative, niche and more personalised cruise experiences, and Shane’s expertise will be key in helping us capitalise on this momentum. I cannot wait for him to join an already high-performing team as we take things up another level.”
Shane said: “I’m thrilled to join the Scenic Group at such a dynamic time of growth. The team is already highly respected and I’m excited to help introduce new opportunities and strengthen existing partnerships. The product is exceptional and there’s a wealth of potential for agent partners to grow their businesses with us.”
