The Cruise Stars Awards judging panel is made up of distinguished specialists and expert industry representatives, together with the editor of Cruise Trade News, Rebecca Barnes. The judges are divided into two groups, the first representing travel agents who judge the cruise line categories and the second representing the cruise lines, who judge the agent categories.
You can read more about our judges below:
Colette Doyle – Chair of Judges, Editor, Cruise Trade News
Colette Doyle is an award-winning magazine editor who has worked on publications in both London and the Gulf in a career spanning almost three decades. Her background as a linguist has led her to be involved with titles that have an international focus.
Starting out in the 1990s covering the pharmaceutical sector, Colette moved into business travel nearly 20 years ago when she was employed at the UK’s largest privately owned publishing house, Haymarket.
She was based in Dubai for six years, during which time she helmed Business Traveller Middle East, the regional edition of the renowned London franchise, as well as being responsible for relaunching Dubai Voyager, the customer publication for leading airport retailer Dubai Duty Free.
Immediately prior to joining Real Response Media, Colette worked at Metropolis International where she headed up the travel retail channel’s longest-established title and was later appointed as managing editor across both Frontier and sister title Duty-Free News International.
Travel Agent Category Judging Panel
Iain Powell – Head of Trade Sales, Saga
Iain Powell is an established and well-respected figure in the Travel Industry. With roles to date centred around Sales and Account Management, Iain has a natural ability to build relationships and drive improved performance.
Iain’s career in travel has seen him work for industry leading companies including Virgin Holidays, TUI, Carnival UK and Saga. He was recognised as a future leader in TTG’s 30 Under 30 programme in 2015-16 and, more recently, he was awarded ‘Young Manager of the Year’ 2019 in the British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame.
As Head of Trade Sales for Saga Travel, Iain is responsible for the travel agent delivery across all Saga Travel products, spanning Land, Ocean and River based Holidays. After joining Saga in January 2018, he has already led them to rapid growth through their trade channel.
Wendy Lahmich – Director of Sales UK & Ireland, Holland America Line & Seabourn
Wendy’s career spans most sectors of the travel industry including retail, tour operating and of course cruising.
After starting her career at AT Mays in 1985, Wendy then worked as a travel consultant for Thomas Cook before joining North America specialist Unijet as a Sales Executive “on the road” with responsibility for the North and Scotland. Wendy’s first introduction to cruising was in selling the company’s “cruise & stay” programme with Carnival Cruise Lines.
Following a spell at CTC Cruise Lines as Sales Manager North & Scotland, Wendy moved south to join one of the UK’s largest cruising general sales agents, and, when the business was purchased by Carnival Corporation in 1999, Wendy was employed firstly as Sales Manager South, then promoted to Sales & Marketing Manager, then again promoted to Head of Sales & Marketing for Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line, based within the registered Carnival Corp. UK office in London.
In November 2011, Wendy was appointed as Director of Sales for Seabourn and Holland America Line, based at the company’s new joint office, at Carnival House in Southampton, alongside sister Carnival UK brands.
Until very recently, Wendy was an active member of the CLIA Trade Sales Engagement Committee, working closely with other cruise lines on projects and promotions to help travel agents learn about and sell cruise. She continues to liaise regularly with other Carnival-owned brands on shared practice.
Jamie Loizou – Sales, Marketing & Digital Director AmaWaterways
Having spent his entire working life in the industry and the last 15 years working in cruise, Jamie has travel in his blood. He started his career working for Cosmos, part of the Globus Group, before moving to luxury cruise specialist travel agency Mundy Cruising. Over the course of 9 years, he worked his way up to Sales & Marketing Director, gaining valuable experience in both cruise and luxury travel. From a travel agency, he moved to The Travel Corporation looking after the UK marketing for Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Uniworld. Now he heads up the sales and marketing for AmaWaterways.
Geoff Ridgeon – Head of Sales, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Geoff has worked in the cruise industry for more than 20 years, having joined Fred. Olsen as a reservations consultant in 1996 at a time when the company had just one ship – Black Prince – and was representing a number of other cruise companies as a General Sales Agent (GSA). In the following years, Geoff worked within a number of departments for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, including in yield and group sales, before taking up roles on board the ships. In 2001, Geoff became Reception Manager across the Fred. Olsen fleet, working predominantly aboard Braemar and Black Watch, a position that he held until 2004.
On his return to the UK, Geoff worked as a land tour operator for Arena Travel and a cruise line account manager for Star Clippers before settling back into office life with Fred. Olsen Travel in 2005, when he was responsible for cruise commercial relationships, the GoCruise Franchise and Fred.\Holidays operations.
Following a 14 year hiatus, Geoff returned to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines as Head of Sales in 2019.
Phillipa Duckworth – Senior Marketing Manager, Oceania Cruises
Phillipa joined Oceania Cruises as Senior Marketing Manager in May 2019 and is responsible for developing fully integrated marketing strategies across the UK and wider EMEA region. Phillipa has a wealth of experience within the cruise industry as Advertising and Campaigns Manager and CRM & E Marketing Manager at a number of notable cruise lines. With a passion for all things cruise, Phillipa will be instrumental in leading the marketing team in promoting Oceania Cruises at a very exciting time for the company with two new ships on the horizon, plus numerous dramatic enhancements as part of OceaniaNEXT.
Connie Georgiou – Sales Director, UK, Ireland, Middle East & Africa, Silversea Cruises
Connie has worked within the Travel Industry all her working life, since her first position at Thomas Cook. She held various positions there, and was most notably appointed the youngest Branch Manager progressing to the top position of Branch Manager of the Worldwide Headquarters in Berkley Street, Mayfair, London.
After her time at Thomas Cook, she was at Avis Budget Group, where she worked for 16 years, most recently as Head of UK Travel and International Strategic Accounts, Global Travel and Partnerships.
She joined the world of cruising at Silversea in June 2016 where she is Sales Director, UK, Ireland, and Middle East & Africa, responsible for driving sales & B2B trade relationships for Silversea Cruises.
Mike Hall – Head of Marketing, Cruise & Maritime Voyages
Mike Hall is Head of Marketing at Cruise & Maritime Voyages, the UK’s leading independent cruise line. Since its launch in 2010, Mike has been responsible for the marketing and PR of the CMV brand which has grown from zero to approaching 150,000 annual international passenger carryings. He has a wealth of travel industry experience in sales, marketing and training, plus travel writing and magazine publication. Mike is well known throughout the UK travel industry, particularly in the cruise sector, and is often called upon for his views and comment. For the third time, Mike will once again be a guest speaker at the annual International Cruise Summit in Madrid.
Cruise Line/Brands Category Judging Panel
Edwina Lonsdale – Managing Director, Mundy Cruising
A true ‘early adopter’, Edwina boasts a lifetime’s work in the cruise industry, stretching back to the early years at Fred.Olsen where she started work as a fresh-faced graduate in 1982, looking after a range of long gone cruise lines including Sun Line, American Hawaii and Blue Funnel cruises.
After a brief foray into tour operating at the newly formed Redwing Holidays, she returned to the industry she loves in 1989, working for her long term mentor Paul Mundy as sales manager for Royal Viking Line, and later Renaissance Cruises and Crystal Cruises.
In 1999, she and her husband Matthew purchased Paul and Judith Mundy’s business in a management buyout, and they have continued to focus on the luxury end of the market, in addition to expedition cruising and a few quirky one-offs, through their acclaimed and respected brands Mundy Cruising, The Cruise Portfolio and Mundy Adventures.
Clare Dudley – Managing Director, Ponders Cruise and Travel
Having been in the world of Travel from the start of her career, Clare has earnt herself a well-respected reputation within the Travel Industry. Working for Premier Travel and Fred Olsen in the business development areas, before setting up her own successful business – Ponders Cruise and Travel. With staff dotted all around the UK and Europe Ponders Travel has earnt many awards including for Clare; Cruise Manager of the year. Cruising is a particular passion of Clare’s, and having been on over 100 ships and river vessels and having held the position of Chair Lady of Leading Cruise Agents her knowledge about all things Cruise is exceptional.
Christine Martin – Director of Business Development, Ethos Farm
Christine’s passion for developing people skills began when she was seconded into the British Caledonian Airways training department whilst being cabin crew in the 1980’s. When the opportunity presented itself to start her own training company in 1995, she couldn’t resist it. Travel Retail Training Ltd or TRT as it was more commonly known, was the industry leader in developing the retail knowledge and skills of airline cabin crew. TRT was most famous for creating the world renowned ISPY cabin crew training, reward and recognition event. In October 2018 she joined Ethos Farm as Business Development Director. Her new role empowers her to maximise her experience and network.
Simonne Fairbanks – Director and Chief Operating Officer, CruisingExcursions.com
Simonne Fairbanks joined CruisingExcursions.com as General Manager in April 2011, just prior to the innovative company’s launch; in 2014 she was appointed to her current role as Director and Chief Operating Officer. Responsible for securing and building a significant overseas infrastructure and compiling a huge portfolio of excursions worldwide, Simonne has overseen the growth of the company, that launched with 240 excursions at 60 Med ports, to more than 12,000 excursions at over 700 ports worldwide.
Simonne started her career in travel in 1990 with Apartments Abroad where she became Reservations Manager, before moving in 2000 to accommodation only company Seligo, as Commercial Operations Manager.
Andrew Todd – Sales & Marketing Director, Jetline Travel
I started in the travel industry back in 1994 selling flight only holidays. In 2001 I joined a start-up called Jetline Travel Limited as a Sales Manager before becoming a partner in the business just a Year later. In 2006 Jetline Travel launched its cruise brand Jetline Cruise.
To date Jetline Cruise has booked over 250,000 UK holidaymakers onto one of our exclusively designed bespoke cruise and stay packages which we offer to all worldwide destinations.
My day to day role in the business is overlooking and managing all aspects of the Jetline Cruise business ensuring we have the highest possible ROI in all that we do and ensuring our long-term relationships with cruise line partners continues to be as mutually beneficial as possible.
Andrea Kendal – Commercial Director, Cruise Nation
Andrea’s career started in the travel industry back in 1990 when she joined Lunn Poly as a trainee sales consultant.
After 12 years she decided to try life on the road as a Regional Sales Executive with Complete Cruise Solution, helping agents in the North East and Cumbria to develop their cruise business.
In 2006 Andrea joined the Hays Travel Group as a Regional Sales Manager for the Independence Group which led her to move into the commercial area of the business a year later. Andrea was appointed as a board Director in 2013 where she was responsible for the running of the commercial department, along with the subsidiary companies, complaints department and Independence Group.
Andrea has a real passion for helping new startups and has mentored new businesses in the North East.
Andrea joined Cruise Nation in Dec 2015 as Commercial Director and works between their Swansea and Newcastle offices.
