After collaborating for 19 years, Cunard and Princess Cruises have established individually dedicated sales teams, effective 01SEP. The shift aligns with Cunard's strategy to substantially expand its footprint in North America.
To bolster Cunard's efforts, Jamie Paiko, VP of North American sales, is set to introduce several new roles, including a Business Development Manager for both the West and East Coasts and a Director for National and Strategic Accounts, all expected to be onboarded this fall.
The revamped sales team includes 1 a sales manager, a dedicated sales specialist, and four regional managers to handle national accounts across the northern, southern, eastern, and western U.S. regions.
Paiko shared the thoughts leading to the change with Cruise Week: "We couldn't have grown in North America without Princess' sales team," she said. "But now having a dedicated salesforce gives us the concentration we need as we're growing 50% in this marketplace over these three years (2023, 2024, and 2025). We've already grown 20% in 2023."
She noted that this had been in the making for some time, "and now is the time."
Expressing gratitude for the nearly two-decade collaboration with Princess Cruises, Paiko said, "Together our teams have generated strong results by leveraging our talent and best practices. Bringing that strong foundation forward, I am so excited for Cunard to embark on this new chapter, further distinguishing ourselves in the luxury cruise space."
Speaking of the brand's progression, Matt Gleaves, VP of commercial for Cunard in both North America and Australasia, referenced the company's growth trajectory with Queen Anne. In May 2024, Cunard will welcome the "additional capacity of the 3,000-passenger Queen Anne."
"Now is the time for the Cunard sales team to deepen their focus on the brand's unique luxury proposition in the cruise industry," said Gleaves.
Paiko told Cruise Week its North American headquarters will remain in Santa Clarita.
Cunard's new "Partner Support" team specialists, comprising Darlene Howell, Krissy Thao, and Justin Wade, will be in place to assist the travel advisors and sales team, all operating under Ruth Fernandez's leadership.
