Quark Expeditions has expanded its global sales team to better accommodate the increase in demand anticipated by the addition of two polar expedition vessels: the World Explorer, a 176-passenger hybrid-powered, all-balcony, all-suites vessel ready for the 2018/19 season and Quark Expeditions’ new 200-passenger vessel that will be launched for the 2020/21 Antarctic season.
The expanded team will be led by Thomas Lennartz, Vice-President of Sales, and Meg Murgatroyd, Global Partnership Director.
Quark Expeditions has been committed to creating a new standard of excellence in polar expedition travel by providing experiences that can only be had in the most unique and remote parts of the polar regions.
“Polar is all we do. Our ability to specialize in the polar regions is what has helped us become—and will help us remain—the undisputed leader in polar adventure travel. But, we are committed to providing more than a superior expedition experience—we are also committed to providing our partners with a superior sales experience, which is why we are expanding our team to include additional sales leadership globally,” said Lennartz.
NORTH AMERICA
To support sales growth in North America, Quark Expeditions is expanding its team to include a Regional Sales Director. Beth Mercier, based in Denver, CO, has been appointed to this role, with a focus on supporting and growing retail travel partners, national accounts and consortium business. She has a long history in expedition cruising and working with travel agents. For the past six years, Mercier has specialized in small-ship expedition cruising, and drove business for companies such as ExpeditionTrips.com and Hurtigruten.
Mercier joins a team of sales professionals based out of Toronto, Canada. The team consists of Cara Matthew, Retail Business Development Manager for Canada and Eastern U.S., Richard Angelidis, Strategic Account Manager for Key North American Accounts, and Jonathan Carroll, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships. Plans for further expansion include the addition of a Business Development Manager before the close of this business year.
EUROPE AND SOUTH AMERICA
Quark Expeditions is also adding a Regional Sales Director and Business Development Manager in both Europe and South America.
David Tanguay, based in Toronto, has been appointed as Regional Sales Director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America. He has been a Key Account Manager with Quark Expeditions since 2012.
Christiane Bach, based in London, has been appointed as the Business Development Manager for the UK and Germany. She has joined Quark Expeditions with 15 years of experience in experiential and expedition travel, having worked with G Adventures in Europe.
ASIA PACIFIC
Quark Expeditions plans to support the growth coming from their South Pacific and Asian markets. Recruitment is underway for a new Regional Sales Director, Asia Pacific. A more detailed announcement is expected to be released shortly.