Scenic Group, the parent company of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises, has announced key executive appointments in its US division.
Organisational changes include the promotion of Robert Castro (pictured) to Vice President of Marketing and the appointments of Elizabeth Fettes to Vice President of Sales and Kayla Corbett to Director of Key & Strategic Accounts.
“This is an exciting time of growth for the company as we double our luxury ocean yacht capacity this year with this month’s delivery of ‘Scenic Eclipse II’ and the upcoming delivery of ‘Emerald Sakara’, along with the significant increase in sourcing expected from the US, South & Central America,” said Ken Muskat, Managing Director, Scenic Group USA.
“With our expanding portfolio of Emerald Cruises’ nine river ships and two luxury ocean yachts and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ 13 river ships and two ultra-luxury discovery yachts, the anticipated increase in brand awareness and demand from the US market will come from aggressive marketing efforts and further penetration into the very important trade distribution to share our distinctive vacation experience.
“These key appointments further elevate our leadership team putting us in a strong position to achieve these goals,” he said.
Castro joined Scenic Group USA in early 2022 with more than a decade of cruise experience having previously worked for Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises.
In his most recent role of Senior Director of Marketing, he successfully led the marketing strategy and operations including brand, digital and marketing services for the US market and has proven his ability to now take on his new role as Scenic Group USA moves toward an exciting phase of growth with a strong focus on storytelling and brand differentiation in the fast-growing luxury river, ocean and expedition cruise segment.
He will report to Muskat.
Fettes joins Scenic Group USA following her most recent role as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for Premier Worldwide Marketing. She also brings cruise industry experience from tenures at Royal Caribbean International and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
She will oversee US and Latin American sales via the company’s trade distribution network, sales support & trade partnerships, charter and MICE business and groups. She will also report to Muskat.
Corbett will report to Fettes in her role as Director of Key & Strategic Accounts. Her most recent role was as Senior Manager, Key Accounts at Norwegian Cruise Line.
She began her career in the cruise industry working on board ships as a Loyalty & Future Cruise Sales Associate and a Port Shopping Consultant. Corbett then came ashore where she served as a Business Development Manager in the New York and New England region for MSC Cruises; Charters, Incentive & Future Voyage Sales Manager for Virgin Voyages; and Corporate Sales Manager for the Midwest & Latin America regions for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
The company said it was currently searching for a Senior Director of Field Sales to report to Fettes and an Associate Director of Consumer and Brand Marketing to report to Castro.
Ann Chamberlin, current Vice President of Sales, will be leaving the company as will Richard Hickey, current Senior Director of Key Accounts.
