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Cruises Expands National North American
Business Development Team to Further Serve Retail and Wholesale Partners
ATHENS, GREECE (June 10, 2022)
Celestyal Cruises, the award-winning, number one choice for cruise travelers to the Greek Islands and the Mediterranean, has announced the appointment of a new business development manager for the Northeast U.S and the creation of a new director of national accounts position. Bentlie Logan has been appointed to the position of business development manager, Northeast USA/Canada. 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. She will continue to look after her accounts in the southeastern region while assuming her new and expanded role as director of national accounts. Predmesky will now be tasked with replicating her success in the southeast across the country to build upon and grow long-lasting, profitable and successful partnerships with travel agencies, consortia, wholesalers and tour operators.
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, travel advisor training, development of cooperative marketing plans and representing the company at important industry events. Logan will report to Gordon Dirker, vice president business development for North America. Prior to joining Celestyal Cruises, Logan worked as a business development manager for Ships Group in Miami, Florida. She previously spent more than five years as a travel advisor in Louisiana and California.
“I am thrilled to have Bentlie join our growing business development team and to welcome Sofia to our groups team to further serve our travel advisor partners in the important North American market. At the same time, I am extremely pleased to announce the well-deserved promotion of Kelly to the new role of director of national accounts,” said Gordon Dirker, vice president of business development, North America, Celestyal Cruises. “As travel rebounds, and as Celestyal returns to year-round sailing, we are seeing increasing demand for our cruises in the Greek Isles and 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 an addition to its groups department. Sofia Baliou has joined Celestyal Cruises in the position of group agent, reporting to Vicky Motaki in the revenue management department. In this position, Baliou will be exclusively focused on servicing the growing group market. She will also be tasked with maximizing group revenues, handling pricing, inventory, and technology for this important segment of Celestyal’s business. Baliou most recently worked at My Mykonos Hotel – Hotel Brain as a front office agent and prior to that as a front office agent at O&B Athens boutique hotel.
In addition, Celestyal has appointed Theodora Damaskinou to the position of travel administrator for its shore excursion department based at the company’s headquarters in Piraeus, Greece. Reporting to Natasha Bakatselou, manager, travel experience center, Damaskinou 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. Damaskinou has more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry, most recently with Versus Travel and previously with Athena Tours.
Celestyal has also expanded its North American contact center with additional staff and has increased the contact center operating hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, Monday to Friday, to serve both travel advisors and guests alike.
About Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises has fast built an award-winning reputation and recognition as the number one choice for cruise travellers to the Greek Islands and East Mediterranean thanks to its regional expertise and exceptional hospitality. The company operates two vessels, each one intimate enough to provide guests with a genuine and highly personalised experience. The foundation of the company’s philosophy is built on a unique Greek heritage which combines outstanding hospitality with genuine cultural destination immersion and provides authentic, lifetime experiences both onboard and onshore.
Health & Safety
At Celestyal Cruises, our main priorities are compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew and the communities we visit. As a member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), we have pledged our commitment to adopt mandatory core elements of enhanced health protocols as part of a phased-in resumption of cruise operations.
Informed by leading scientists, medical experts, European and Hellenic health authorities, these protocols apply to the entire cruise experience. Our Health and safety measures will be continuously evaluated and adjusted based on the current evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe as well as the availability of new prevention, therapeutics, and mitigation measures.
Awards
Between 2014 and 2021 Celestyal Cruises has received top honors in the Tourism Awards, one of the largest and most prestigious awards within the Greek tourism industry. These include 1 Platinum, 14 Gold, 9 Silver and 5 Bronze awards covering Guest Experience Excellence, Solo Travel, CSR Initiatives and Contribution to National Economy.
In December 2018 and 2019 Celestyal Cruises received the Cruise Critic U.K. Editors’ Picks Award for Best Service. In February 2018 Celestyal Cruises received four Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards -two first place awards for Shore Excursions and Value, and two second place awards for Service and Entertainment.
In 2019 and 2020, Celestyal Cruises was recognized for its overall contribution and commitment to the development of the cruise industry in the Mediterranean region at the MedCruise Awards.
Corporate Responsibility
Celestyal Cruises is deeply committed to sustainability and ethical business practices. The company actively supports the local communities in the destinations it visits, particularly in the field of education. Additionally, Celestyal Cruises supports cultural NGOs to promote youth entrepreneurship, marine student development and child welfare.
ISO Certification
The entire spectrum of Celestyal Cruises’ ship management, including technical, hotel and crew management, and offices, are certified in accordance with ISO 9001/14001 standards. The certifying authority is DNV, which is by widely recognized as the biggest and most respected rating agency in the marine industry.
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