FORMER long-time Holland America and Seabourn sales chief Tony Archbold has taken a new role as Vice President of Sales, Australia, NZ and Asia for the newly relaunched Crystal Cruises (TD breaking news Fri). Archbold (pictured) left his previous role last year after more than a decade heading up the...
FORMER long-time Holland America and Seabourn sales chief Tony Archbold has taken a new role as Vice President of Sales, Australia, NZ and Asia for the newly relaunched Crystal Cruises (TD breaking news Fri).
Archbold (pictured) left his previous role last year after more than a decade heading up the HAL and Seabourn brands locally (CW 18 Jul 2022), with his departure from Carnival Corp part of a wider restructure which saw the positions of several HAL/Seabourn colleagues also made redundant (CW 07 Oct 2022).
No formal announcement of his new role has been made yet, but it’s understood he started with Crystal at the beginning of Jan.
In a LinkedIn post on Fri Archbold confirmed the new role which gives him the “envious task of leading the relaunch and success of this much-loved and highly awarded brand to our trade partners and guests in the APAC region”.
Crystal Cruises is also believed to have appointed UK cruise industry veteran Andrew McGowan to lead its sales in the EMEA region.
Crystal appears to be preparing for its imminent return to the market, with former guests emailed over the weekend with an offer of “exclusive early access” to the line’s shortly-to-be-announced 2023 and 2024 voyages aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, which were acquired by A&K Travel Group along with the Crystal brand name and database (CW 23 Jun 2022) after the bankruptcy of former owner, Genting Hong Kong early last year.
An early booking window will open on 13 Feb, ahead of a wider public launch later in the month, Crystal said, flagging partnerships with sister brand Abercrombie & Kent which will “take you closer to the unseen side of each destination”.
Archbold also looks set to collaborate with A&K locally, with his update noting he will “work closely with the brilliant team at our totally complementary sister brand, Abercrombie & Kent Australia including Debra Fox, Graham Wood, Susan Haberle and Michelle Mickan”.
