Ponant appoints pair of North America sales executivesPonant appoints pair of North America sales executives

Gatta will work with Ponant's travel agency partners and consortia throughout North America, and oversee the US sales team. She has more than 25 years of experience in the wholesale travel industry, including 16 years with Travel Impressions/Apple Leisure Group and American Express Vacations as VP global sales. Past positions have encompassed management of sales teams, national accounts, partnership marketing, product development and global strategy throughout North America, Europe and Latin America.

McIlvaine, based in Seattle, manages sales development in the Northwest region that includes northern California, Washington and British Columbia. Most recently she worked in business development at OceanGate, and previously held sales positions with Zegrahm Expeditions and Red Lantern Journeys.

With these appointments Ponant aims to broaden and strengthen its partnerships with travel advisers and increase awareness of its portfolio of products, said Navin Sawhney, CEO, Americas.

Two new ships, Le Lapérouse and Le Champlain, are scheduled to enter service sin summer 2018, with two more, Le Bougainville and Le Dumont-d'Urville, to follow in 2019.