A&K’s Akorn Destination Management has announced a strategic reorganization of its cruise DMC division to enhance its services and support its growth in this sector.
With over 55 offices in more than 30 countries, Akorn offers shore excursions, pre- and post-cruise programs, land programs and more. The reorganization is in line with the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction and expansion within the cruise industry.
Key changes to leadership roles within the cruise DMC team include:
- Anthony Brent – Previously based in the Australia office, Brent has relocated to the US to focus on building the cruise business in the US and Canada, a key market for cruise DMC operations
- Paul Brunning – Formerly the head of Akorn Cruise DMC in Africa, Brunning will now lead the Australia and New Zealand offices, leveraging his extensive experience in cruise operations
- Patricia Alexandrou – Based in Cape Town, Alexandrou, who joined the Africa Akorn Cruise team two years ago, will continue to manage the Africa cruise team. The company will employ a sales and operational Africa manager for the region to support her with Brunning’s move to Australia
- Marco Lertora – With a successful track record in growing Akorn’s cruise business in Morocco for the past eight years, Lertora has taken up the challenge to expand the Akorn DMC Cruise handling in Europe and the UK, where new cruise teams will be created, covering product development and operations in the brand’s Spain, Italy and UK DMCs
- Rosy Catignani – Based in the Brazil office, Catignani has been promoted and is now overseeing cruise DMC operations across Latin America
- Toby Biddick – Based in the Chicago office, Biddick will continue as VP worldwide cruise business, reporting to Rebecca Osman, SVP DMCs but will also work closer with the heads of the four DMC regions
In addition to the developments above, the following people will be managing cruise DMC operations in their region/country:
- Karen Dawney in Thailand, across South East Asia
- Andrew Landsberger in Sri Lanka, across India and assisting in Sri Lanka
- Ryan Lin in Hong Kong, across North East Asia
- Heba Matar in Egypt
- Amr Elsadi in Jordan
The company plans to focus on expanding its cruise DMC offerings in Europe and North America, building upon its established presence in other key markets.
Rebecca Osman, SVP DMCs at A&K, said: “We are thrilled to announce this strategic reorganization, which reflects our dedication to providing the highest quality experiences to our cruise partners and their guests. With a strengthened team and a clear vision for growth, we are confident in our ability to continue leading the luxury DMC market in the cruise sector.”
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