Ambassador Cruise Line has appointed Nicola Harper to the newly-created role of Head of Distribution and Ian Benjafield as Head of Communications.
Harper will report to CCO, Phil Gardner, while Benjafield will report to Gordon Nardini, Chief Marketing Officer.
Harper was due to join the UK-based cruise operator on 10th October, 2022 and will assume leadership of the Ambassador trade team. She will work closely with Head of Reservations, Dave Eastwood, on a transition plan for the management of the contact centre through October before Eastwood takes on a new role as Head of Inventory and Trading, also reporting to Gardner.
She brings more than 15 years’ travel industry experience to the role covering ancillary products, tour operations, bed banks and home working, working closely with both trade and contact centre teams.
“I am delighted to welcome Nicola to Ambassador in the newly-created role of Head of Distribution,” Gardner said.
“As brand awareness and interest in our premium-value product continues to grow, our focus on creating and fostering trade partnerships has never been so important to us. I look forward to working with Nicola as we continue to develop a brand and a business that stands tall in the UK cruise market.”
Benjafield joined on 19th September, 2022 as Head of Communications with responsibility for corporate, consumer and internal communication.
He has had more than 25 years’ experience in the travel industry, working across destination, tour operating, airline, retail, cruise and hotel communications.
Previous roles have included senior positions at brands, including Disneyland Paris, TUI UK, Thomas Cook and Travelodge, and agency-side travel PR at Finn Partners.
He will be working alongside Rooster PR, who were appointed as Ambassador’s PR Agency in August, 2022
Nardini said: “As Britain’s newest cruise line, we have so much to say. We know our guests, trade partners and media want to hear from Ambassador about our company developments and the great experiences and memories we are creating on board.
“The appointment of Ian, with his varied experience and deep understanding of the travel PR landscape, comes at a pivotal time for the company, as we continue on our current growth trajectory and look to share our story more widely. With the support of Rooster PR, Ian will also be key to the launch of Ambassador’s second ship, ‘Ambition’, to the market in May, 2023,” he said.
In addition, it was announced that Ambassador had joined the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).
