WHY IT RATES: MSC Cruises is preparing for a surge in demand by bolstering its leadership. --Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior Writer.
MSC Cruises announced that Kris Endreson has joined MSC Cruises USA as vice president, strategic sales.
MSC Cruises is enhancing its sales organization ahead of its upcoming restart from U.S. ports and as the Company continues its investment in North America as part of its strategic growth. This summer, MSC Meraviglia will resume cruises from Miami on August 2, 2021, to The Bahamas and featuring the cruise line's private island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
The Company will then resume operations for a second ship in mid-September, MSC Divina, sailing three-, four- and seven-night cruises from Port Canaveral to The Bahamas and Caribbean. Most exciting this fall, MSC Cruises will welcome a brand-new ship to Miami, MSC Seashore, launching this summer and arriving to Miami this November. In addition to fleet expansion, the Company also continues to invest in operations from the U.S. with its new terminal at PortMiami still under development.
"As MSC Cruises gears up for the exciting resumption of cruises from U.S. ports this summer, as well as welcome a new ship to Miami this November, it is critical that we continue to invest in strengthening our sales leadership to meet the pent-up demand for travel and cruise and serve our partners in the best way possible," said Ken Muskat, executive vice president and chief operating officer of MSC Cruises USA. "The U.S. remains a key pillar of our global growth strategy, and Kris Endreson's appointment is yet another step in expanding our shoreside business team to meet the needs of this market. We are thrilled to welcome Kris into the MSC Cruises family to further bolster our sales operations."
Reporting to Michelle Lardizabal, senior vice president and commercial sales officer, Endreson will be responsible for overseeing and strategically enhancing MSC Cruises' key relationships with the industry's largest travel consortia, key strategic accounts and meetings, incentives & corporate events travel.
"Having spent the majority of my career in the cruise sector, I have seen the industry evolve to meet future travel demand and overcome challenges with resilience," said Endreson. "There is incredible opportunity on the horizon for MSC Cruises and the partners we work with, and I am thrilled to be joining a company with such a strong commitment to growth, both globally and in the U.S., and partnership with dedicated travel advisors."
Endreson joins MSC Cruises with more than 20 years of cruise industry experience and a background in leading sales organizations, holding senior sales and marketing positions at both luxury and contemporary cruise companies. Most recently, Kris served as vice president of sales for the Americas with SeaDream Yacht Club, and previously served as the senior director of global sales at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and as sales and marketing director for Crystal Yacht Expeditions and Crystal AirCruises. She also spent more than five years at Silversea, ultimately becoming vice president of sales for North America.
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