by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:40 PM ET, Thu April 25, 2024
Chris Austin (Photo Credit: Explora Journeys)
Christopher Austin has been named president of North America for Explora Journeys.
Explora Journeys is the new luxury lifestyle brand of MSC Group. The company offered its first cruise onboard EXPLORA I in August 2023. Its second ship, EXPLORA II, is slated to debut August, followed by EXPLORA III in 2026, EXPLORA IV and EXPLORA V in 2027, and EXPLORA VI in 2028.
Austin joined the new brand as chief sales officer in November 2020. Before that, he served as senior vice president of global marketing and sales for Seabourn Cruise Line and vice president of global luxury and leisure sales for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.
In his new role, Austin will oversee the North American teams and market for Explora Journeys.
“Chris is a highly respected leader in the luxury hospitality industry and was one of the founding members of the Explora Journeys leadership team, joining nearly four years ago,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, chairman of the cruise division for MSC Group, which includes MSC Cruises. “The appointment signifies not only his exceptional talent but also the boundless growth opportunities within our organization.”
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