It comes as the new line announced the appointment of P&O Cruises’ Shane Riley to head up its international sales.
Riley, formerly director of trade engagement and onboard sales at the Carnival UK brand, is Virgin Voyages’ first recruit outside of North America.
He will join the line on May 21 as director of international sales, and will be UK-based, reporting to Stacy Shaw, vice-president of sales and business development, who is based in Miami.
Shaw told TTG that once Riley came onboard the line would “lay out a plan of engagement with the trade in the UK”. “I expect that we will start conversations with agents this summer and get everyone set up to do business with us in the autumn,” she added.
Later this year, Riley will be tasked with helping agents in the UK and overseas better understand the Virgin Voyages brand and its customers. “This will enable our partners to more easily identify the people who will love and appreciate a unique and differentiated experience at sea,” explained Shaw.
She said Riley had been chosen due to his “extensive knowledge of the UK travel industry” and his “genuine commitment to travel agents and their success”.
She added Virgin Voyages considered him to be the “perfect choice” to head up its efforts with the trade outside of its US base.
“Given our British heritage at Virgin, the UK holds a special place in our hearts. This is a market that’s very important to us and we can’t think of anyone better to look after our partners there,” Shaw said.
Virgin Voyages will begin sailing in 2020 when the first of its 2,700-passenger adults-only ships launches from Miami. The line aims to have three vessels, which it terms “Lady Ships”, while its passengers will be labelled “sailors”.
