ATHENS — Celestyal Cruises has announced several new appointments that will enhance its presence in North America.
Bentlie Logan takes on the role of business development manager, Northeast USA/Canada, while Kelly Predmesky, who has served as business development manager, southeastern U.S. since 2018, has been promoted to the new position of director of national accounts.
Based in Connecticut, Logan will be responsible for growing Celestyal’s footprint in the Northeast U.S. and Canada as well as developing the company’s distribution in key travel agent, group and tour operator channels, maximizing trade awareness and travel advisor training, developing cooperative marketing plans and representing the company at industry events. Prior to joining Celestyal, Logan served as a business development manager for Ships Group in Miami and previously spent more than five years as a travel advisor in Louisiana and California. She will report to Gordon Dirker, vice president, business development for North America.
Predmesky will continue to look after her accounts in the southeastern region while assuming her new and expanded role as director of national accounts. She will now be tasked with building and growing profitable and successful partnerships with travel agencies, consortia, wholesalers and tour operators.
Welcoming both Logan and Predmesky to the team, Dirker said: “As travel rebounds and as Celestyal returns to year-round sailing, we are seeing increasing demand for our cruises in the Greek Isles and Eastern Mediterranean. And with our now expanded business development team in the U.S. and Canada, we are even better positioned to meet this growing demand and to assist our travel advisor partners grow their business.”
Celestyal has also announced the addition of Sofia Baliou to its groups department. As a group agent, Baliou will report to Vicky Motaki in the revenue management department and will exclusively focus on servicing the growing group market. She will be tasked with maximizing group revenues, handling pricing, inventory and technology for this segment.
In addition, Celestyal has appointed Theodora Damaskinou to the position of travel administrator for its shore excursion department based in the company’s headquarters in Piraeus, Greece. She will be responsible for assisting travel advisors and their clients with all matters related to shore excursions, tours, pre- and post-cruise transportation, and accommodation.
Celestyal has also expanded its North American contact centre with additional staff and has increased operating hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, Monday to Friday, to serve both travel advisors and guests.
