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NCL appoint two senior executives

The NCL Corp. have appointed Kevin Sheehan as evp and cfo, replacing Bonnie Biumi, who left for a cfo position outside the cruise business. The line also named Gregory Hunt to the newly created role of evp strategic and commercial development. Both executives report to NCL president and ceo Colin Veitch.

After a nine-year career with Cendant including five years as president and cfo of Avis, two years as Cendant cfo and two years as chairman and ceo of Cendant’s Vehicle Services Division, Sheehan has spent the past two and a half years consulting to private equity firms and lecturing in finance at Adelphi University in New York.

Hunt has held senior operating positions at companies owning and developing such brands as Culligan, Samsonite, Coldwell Banker and Century 21. Most recently, he worked for Apollo Management in the U.K. and prior to that served as svp and cfo at Tweeter Home Entertainment Group.

In his new role, Hunt will oversee on-board revenue including casino operations. He will also spearhead a new strategic planning initiative as well as the commercial development of licensing opportunities and business partnerships.

Veitch said the new executives ‘and we alike are eager to make all kinds of initiatives and opportunities to take NCL to the next level.’

Royal Caribbean International is moving two senior vice presidents to new roles
Royal Caribbean International is moving two senior vice presidents to new roles and elevating its international operations to even greater importance, Lisa Bauer, svp North American sales, is going to lead total guest satisfaction/hotel operations, as svp and Michael Bayley, the current svp hotel operations, is tasked with heading a new international operations division, based in Miami.

Royal Caribbean has international business development groups responsible for three regions: Europe/Middle East/Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia/Pacific. ‘[Bayley] will essentially be the glue that binds them all together, directing our international strategy and growth,’ a Royal Caribbean spokesman told Seatrade Insider.

Ken Muscat, who was promoted to vp sales (from regional vp) in late September, will lead the North American sales team on an interim basis.

Bauer joined Royal Caribbean in late 2002 after sales and marketing roles at Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort, Midwest Express Airlines and Legend Airlines.

Bayley has overseen hotel operations for RCI the past few years after serving as md of Island Cruises, Royal Caribbean’s joint venture with First Choice Holidays. Before taking the Island helm, he was vp total guest satisfaction for RCI.

Carnival’s Vicki Freed joins NTA board

Vicki Freed, svp sales and guest services for Carnival Cruise Lines, will serve as a director at large on the 2008 National Tour Association Board of Directors.  NTA has nearly 3,000 members around the globe, including 600 tour operator companies, as well as , independent, inbound and outbound  operators as well as the destinations and suppliers that work with them.

Carnival UK board appointment for Giles Hawkes
Also on the move at Carnival, the UK sales director Giles Hawke has been appointed to the board of Carnival UK. Following the retirement of Linda Scard in April 2008, he will also take on additional responsibilities for reservations and systems, creating a combined customer services and sales unit.
CEO David Dingle said Hawke during his five years with Carnival UK ‘has transformed our sales operation into the Complete Cruise Solution during a period of massive change and growth for the company. I am delighted to welcome him to the board and wish him every success.’

Bermello Ajamil & Partners will design the new Terminal 18 at Port Everglades
Bermello Ajamil & Partners has been selected as the architect for the expansion of Terminal 18 at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades.

The $37.4m expansion results from the agreement between Broward County and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to provide a new homeport for the Genesis class of ships.

It will be a state-of-the-art terminal to service RCI's new Genesis Class ships the world’s largest cruise vessel. The terminal will be designed to process more than 12,000 people in an eight-hour period, far surpassing the capacity of other terminals with nearly half of that processing capacity.

Understanding the the logistics requiremed to move the large volume of passengers, crew, luggage and stores is critical to this process. The B&A design team have been working with the Port Everglades staff and Royal Caribbean’s port operations team to make this happen.

Holland America Line Wins Preferred Travel Partner of the Year Award from CAA

At a recent supplier appreciation dinner, the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) announced Holland America Line as Preferred Travel Partner of the Year for the second straight year. CAA agents from the nine clubs across Canada gave the premium line top marks for service, marketing, sales support, cruise product, and overall satisfaction.

“For Holland America Line and our entire marketing, sales and guest programs team, this is a true testament to the programs we offer to travel sellers,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC,executive vice president marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland America Line. “We’ve had tremendous success working with Canadian travel partners and this award acknowledges our dedication.”

Holland America Line boasts one of the most extensive sales forces in the cruise industry, with 165 dedicated sales staff in the areas of field sales, national accounts, sales support, charter and incentive, promotions, groups and sales management. The premium line has 46 two-person Business Development Teams comprised of a field-based Business Development Manager and a Seattle-based Business Development Representative to provide representation to travel sellers.