NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDS NORTH AMERICAN SALES TEAM
Norwegian strengthens Partners First by nearly doubling field sales presence
Miami – Feb 10, 2015 — Norwegian Cruise Line today announced a substantial expansion to the company’s North American sales team, almost doubling the number of business development managers in the field, and increasing the overall sales group by more than 40 percent. Building on Norwegian’s Partners First philosophy, this investment signifies the line?s committment to having the most engaged, empowered and responsive sales team in the cruise industry in order to promote the long-term success of its valued travel partners.
“With the recent addition of exciting and innovative capacity and significantly more to come, this expansion will allow us to build closer, more effective partnerships with our travel partners across North America,” said Drew Madsen, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and chief operating officer. “By growing our sales team, we can reach more travel partners. Combine this increased reach with the significant investment we have made in marketing tools, booking automation, training, co-operative marketing dollars and the youngest fleet in the North American cruise industry and we believe we have a winning formula.”
As a part of the expansion, new field sales representatives will be added in regions throughout the United States and Canada, including multiple positions in California, as well as an expanded presence in New York, Texas, and the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The Norwegian field sales team will also add a new business development manager position and a director of sales for Canada, joining the four managers already fully dedicated to Canadian travel partners. Sales managers will also be added to the National Accounts, Key Accounts, Charters, Meetings & Incentives and Inside Sales teams based in Miami, to further boost the company’s industry leading world-class sales force.
“Our aggressive and sizable investment into our sales force will not only allow us to personally reach more travel professionals, but will also allow us to deepen the relationships we have with our travel partners,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian’s executive vice president of sales. “I am immensely proud of our sales team and what they’ve accomplished over the years. It’s now time to build on that success and continue to put our Partners First.”
Leading the expanded sales force are three seasoned industry professionals: Nathan Hickman, who recently joined Norwegian from Oceania Cruises as vice president of field sales and national accounts; Alex Pinelo, a long time veteran of Norwegian, who was recently appointed vice president of key accounts, and Katina Athanasiou, vice president of charters, meetings and incentives for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
In April of 2011, Norwegian Cruise Line introduced Partners First, the company’s corporate philosophy of putting its travel partners first, including a $16 million investment towards new customizable marketing tools with Marketing Headquarters; a complete focus on being easy to do business with; the streamlining of the booking processes and technology; and a commitment on direct business. Norwegian has consistently strengthened its commitment to the long term success of its travel partners by unveiling additional new and improved efforts.
This expansion comes as the Norwegian Sales Team is in the midst of series of events that brings the Norwegian sales leadership team face-to-face with travel partners and individual agents in 21 cities across the United States and Canada, including Atlanta, Boston, New York, Montreal, Dallas, Los Angeles and more. Each of the exclusive Norwegian hosted events provides travel partners with a detailed insider look at Norwegian Escape, the line’s largest and most innovative ship to-date, launching this November.
Travel partners who would like to learn more about Norwegian’s Partners First initiatives, please visit www.norwegiancentral.ncl.com.
About Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 48-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to “Cruise Like a Norwegian” on one of 13 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed, resort style cruise vacation on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea. Recently, the line was named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the seventh consecutive year, as well as “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” for the third time and “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” for the past two years by the World Travel Awards.
The Company recently took delivery of its most innovative ship to date, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Getaway in the first quarter of 2014. The largest ship to homeport year-round in Miami, Norwegian Getaway boasts 28 dining options, including seafood restaurant Ocean Blue by famed New York Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and a branch of Carlo’s Bake Shop by Buddy Valastro, star of the TLC series “Cake Boss.” The entertainment lineup includes Broadway shows Legally Blonde and Burn the Floor and a unique magical theatrical experience, the Illusionarium. Norwegian Getaway’s sister ship, Norwegian Breakaway, was named “Best New Ship of 2013” by the editors of Cruise Critic and “Best Rookie Cruise Ship” by the readers of Travel Weekly. Known as New York’s ship, Norwegian Breakaway is the largest vessel to homeport year-round in the city. The Company currently has four vessels on order at Meyer Werft for delivery in fall 2015, spring 2017, spring 2018 and fall 2019.
Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of the Miami Dolphins/Sun Life Stadium, The New York Knicks and Legends in Concert; and the official cruise line partner of The GRAMMY Awards and is an official partner of the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall.
SOURCE: Norwegian Cruise Line