Our client is an award-winning, family-owned luxury cruise line with more than two decades in the ultra-luxury small-ship market and one of the most loyal guest followings in travel. Their yachts carry roughly one hundred guests and slip into harbors the large ships cannot reach, which makes the product a pleasure to sell. The fleet is expanding and the US commercial organization is being built out now.

They are hiring a Director of Sales to own the North America number and build the commercial engine behind it. You inherit a respected brand, a devoted guest base and a product that sells itself in the right hands, and you decide how it gets to market.

What you will own

• The North America revenue target across the fleet, including net ticket revenue, occupancy and average per diem by sailing and season, in partnership with Revenue Management
• The annual trade sales plan across every channel: consortia, national accounts, host agencies, key independent luxury agencies and direct
• Executive relationships with the consortia, including Virtuoso, Signature Travel Network, Ensemble and Travel Leaders Network, and the preferred supplier agreements, marketing commitments and conference presence behind them
• Headquarters relationships with national accounts and host agencies, including marketing agreements, commission and override structures and preferred partner placement
• A field sales team, starting with the Southeast and growing as territories are added. You will hire them, set their targets and coach them
• Pricing, promotion and group strategy for North America, and the trade marketing calendar of conferences, advisor events, fam trips and ship inspections

What we are looking for

• Senior sales leadership in luxury cruise, luxury tour operating, luxury hotels or a luxury travel brand selling through the travel advisor channel
• Existing relationships at the consortia and major host agencies, at the level where agreements get signed
• A track record of owning a revenue number in the millions and hitting it
• Experience building and leading a distributed field sales team
• Fluency in how the trade actually works: overrides, preferred supplier economics, co-op marketing and what advisors need in order to sell
• Comfort in a small, family-owned company where you build your own plan rather than inherit a playbook
• Willingness to travel 50 to 60% of the time across North America

Why this role is unusual

Most senior sales roles in cruise are about defending a share point inside a large machine. This one is about deciding what the North America distribution strategy should be and then building it. You will report into the top of the company and be in the room where decisions are made.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short- and long-term disability, life, and long-term care coverage
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick and personal days, company holidays, floating holidays, and bereavement leave
• 2 Weeks of yachting for you and a companion, per year
• Friends and family sailing rates after six months of employment