Azamara has restructured its UK sales team to “bolster market growth and generate greater confidence among trade partners in the region”.

David Duff, formerly the line’s international commercial director, takes on the new role of UK managing director, focusing on developing the UK market, driving growth and providing visible market leadership.

In addition, Lee Surman becomes head of partnerships and trading, taking over the commercial support to all markets, while Stuart Pearce will oversee the UK sales strategy as head of trade sales UK.

Nikki Singleton will take on a greater focus on the top strategic accounts nationally and Lori Scannella returns to deliver UK and EMEA support in her role as sales support manager.

Richard Stanbridge will also assume a new role as trade and guests services manager international, based in London, to support trade partners and guests. 

UK a ‘leading market’ for Azamara

Azamara president Carol Cabezas said: “We recognise the integral role that on the ground sales teams have on market performance and the value of their relationships with local trade partners.

“By introducing new team structures with targeted focuses, such as that in the UK, and with a surge of new hires around the world, we are offering more support to trade partners globally and driving forward our international growth.”

Duff added: “This is a really exciting moment for Azamara in the UK. The UK proves to be a leading market for us year-on-year, and now with a reinforced sales team, we can expand our reach even further, visit more travel partners and distribute products across more channels.

“We just had our best year on record in the UK, and with demand for cruising still strong, we are confident that these changes will set the foundations for further success in 2023 and beyond.”

In September, the line revealed it will operate a total of 84 cruises in its 2024 Europe programme.