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Quark Expeditions beefs up global sales team

(Rendering: Quark Expeditions)
Quark recently ordered a newbuild to enter service in time for the 2020/21 Antarctica season
Quark Expeditions has expanded its global sales team to accommodate the increase in demand anticipated by the addition of two new polar expedition vessels: World Explorer, a 176-passenger, hybrid-power, all-balcony suite ship chartered for the 2018/19 Antarctica season, and a recently announced 200-passenger newbuild to enter service in time for the 2020/21 Antarctica season.

The expanded team will be led by Thomas Lennartz, VP sales, and Meg Murgatroyd, global partnership director. Both have expertise in expedition cruising and are expected to help Quark build closer, more effective partnerships with tour operators, wholesalers and retail travel agents globally.

Since its inception in 1991, Quark has focused solely on polar expeditions. 'We are committed to providing more than a superior expedition experience—we are also committed to providing our partners with a superior sales experience, which is why we are expanding our team to include additional sales leadership globally,' Lennartz said.

Beth Mercier based in Denver

In North America, the team will now include a regional sales director. Beth Mercier, based in Denver, was appointed to this new role, with a focus on supporting and growing business from retail travel partners, national accounts and consortium business. She has a long history in expedition cruising and working with travel agents. For the past six years, Mercier has specialized in small-ship expedition cruising, and drove business for companies such as ExpeditionTrips.com and Hurtigruten.

Mercier joins a seasoned team of sales professionals based in Toronto. They include Cara Matthew, retail business development manager for Canada and Eastern US; Richard Angelidis, strategic account manager for key North American accounts, and Jonathan Carroll, business development and strategic partnerships. Plans for further expansion include an additional business development manager before year's end.

New hires to support Europe and South America

To support strong sales growth in Europe and South America, Quark is adding a regional sales director and business development manager in each area.

David Tanguay, based in Toronto, has been appointed regional sales director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America. He has been a key account manager with Quark since 2012, and integral in driving growth with charters, groups and FIT business from key global partners.

Additionally, Christiane Bach, based in London, was named business development manager for the UK and Germany. She joins the company with 15 years of experience in expedition travel, having worked with G Adventures in Europe.

Bach becomes the first Quark team member based in Europe and will assist the company's partners in the UK and Germany.

Recruitment of Asia Pacific sales director

Quark Expeditions also plans to support the growth coming from South Pacific and Asian markets. Recruitment is under way for a regional sales director, Asia Pacific, and an announcement is expected shortly. This follows by a year the opening of Quark's Beijing branch office, which has helped tap into China’s rapidly increasing outbound tourism market.