Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Highly experienced and strategic cruise industry executive with an in-depth knowledge of all things cruise in the North American marketplace gained from a 45-plus year career. A passionate individual with the power of persuasion and the ability to close sales and create excellent marketing campaigns. Supporter of the Canadian retail travel professional and proud, hard-working entrepreneur. A woman who enjoys a challenge, loves the industry in which she works and continually wants and hopes to make a difference. Publisher and editorial director/content provider of high-end, appealing and informative travel and cruise magazines in Canada and in the US for both consumer and trade. Provider of custom content and creative conceptualization at a moment's notice. An articulate and entertaining public speaker in a variety of categories. Human Resources recruiter for the cruise and travel industry and can undertake project management within various related categories. Cruiser on myriad lines and over 400 ships and traveller to 106 countries. I am comfortable in my own skin and unapologetic for same.
Cruise Strategies is a strategic sales and marketing company specialising in the representation of luxury, deluxe and niche cruise lines in the Canadian market. We have a close partnership with the luxury and exploration brand, Ponant and assist them with all sales and marketing strategies in Canada. Cruise Strategies works closely with professional retail travel agencies across Canada to help them build their cruise sales for Ponant. We have an excellent sales and marketing team that work with these travel sellers and can offer many tools for them to grow their sales. Additionally, Cruise Strategies provides services such as Public Relations and Executive Search functions and undertakes various projects and consultancies in the cruise and travel sectors. We love motivational speaking for the cruise and travel industry.
Cruise and Travel Lifestyles is published three times annually - winter, spring/summer and fall - and is distributed directly into the homes of high-end Canadian travellers under the auspices of their travel agents. The magazine is about to celebrate its 16th Anniversary and focuses on a wide range of ocean and river cruises, destinations, hotels, and resorts. Award-winning journalists and freelance writers are key contributors and our Editor-in-Chief is Liz Fleming, a well-travelled writer and editor with extensive journalistic experience. Cruise and Travel Lifestyles is available on a complimentary subscription basis by checking our website - www.cruiseandtravellifestyles.com We also custom publish several consumer travel magazines annually for retail travel agency clients in the US and Canada and collaborate on cruise supplements for the travel trade, and in 2018 published our first bespoke magazine specifically for a luxury cruise line at their behest. Since then, a number of bespoke magazines have been distributed on behalf of various ocean and river cruise companies under our purview. We possess a formidable and wide breadth of knowledge about the North American cruise industry, which ensures we provide our custom clients with well-designed creative and a wide variety of columns, articles, features, and award-winning stories for these magazines. For information on custom publishing please contact me directly. Content is the new currency, and we have remarkable and outstanding travel articles and the ability to deliver custom features quickly.
Consultancy project from May to November, 2016
On Friday May 11, 2012 I was afforded a remarkable honour and privilege. That of becoming the Godmother to the beautiful Avalon Waterways ship, the Avalon Vista. This experience was one of the most profound of my life and it was certainly a thrilling and magical moment. Thanks to all at Avalon for choosing me! I sailed on "my" ship again in the Fall of 13 on the Danube with a group of Canadians - organized by Encore Cruises and plan to sail again soon.
I was a co-founder and managing partner of Encore Cruises and for 15 years successfully ran the company and built the business from 16 staff to over 100 employees and revenues to over $110million. The company was profitable in every full year of business during my tenure. Encore is still a unique business model in Canada and literally launched many cruise lines in the marketplace. Our Tiffany Collection of luxury and niche ships was also a very successful marketing strategy and program as was our "Just Add Water" ad campaign for mainstream and premium ships.