Vicki Freed Jumps Ship to Royal Caribbean
Who would have predicted this? I got to tell you, right now the travel industry has more twist and turns and is moving faster then the Kingda Ka rollercoaster these days. It’s making MY head spin.
If you recall, Lisa Bauer, then Sr. Vice President of Sales with Royal Caribbean sent out 4 letters to Travel Agencies terminating their agreement in October. Lisa then moved to Vice President of Hotel Operations just a few short weeks later in early December.
Today we find that none other than Carnivals Vick Freed has filled the void left by Lisa to take over Sr. Vice President of Sales for Royal Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean International today named cruise industry veteran Vicki Freed as the company's senior vice president, sales.
Freed joins the company after 29 years with Carnival Cruise Lines, where she spent the last 15 years as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to that, Freed served in a variety of sales management positions within the cruise line.
From 1998 to 2000, Freed also served as the first, and only, female chairman of the Cruise Line International Association, the marketing and travel agent training arm of the North American cruise industry.
"Vicki has an outstanding and proven background within our industry and we are very pleased to have her join our team," said Adam Goldstein, president and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean International. "Vicki's passionate support of travel agents has been well chronicled and recognized. She will be a great asset to our brand as we continue to grow."
In her new role, Freed will take charge of the company's 345-person sales force, the largest sales team in the cruise industry. She will also manage the company's Trade Support and Services division, which includes Reservations, Group Sales, Customer Service, and Loyalty Programs. Freed will report to Goldstein.
Freed earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Colorado, and holds a Certified Travel Counselor designation. She also serves as a trustee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County.
Vicki has always been a great supporter and team member to YTB and I wish her well. She understands our model and recognizes how our large numbers of small producers can create impressive sales for a cruise line. She was present during the Funshine show in Orlando awarding YTB it’s third Pinnacle Award, and attended one of the largest, (if not THE largest) crowd for a single CLIA training on record. It will be interesting to see if we have lost a true ally in this industry, or if this ally can knock some sense into a very stubborn cruise line.
I don’t know Vicki personally, but what I do know of her, is she is a very warm and decent person. She could also hold her own with the Travel Agents who ridiculed her when she publicly supported YTB and the MLM model.
Makes me wonder if she could do the same with RCCL?
Hmmmm.
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Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
Book Your Travel & Vacations With
Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635
If you recall, Lisa Bauer, then Sr. Vice President of Sales with Royal Caribbean sent out 4 letters to Travel Agencies terminating their agreement in October. Lisa then moved to Vice President of Hotel Operations just a few short weeks later in early December.Today we find that none other than Carnivals Vick Freed has filled the void left by Lisa to take over Sr. Vice President of Sales for Royal Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean International today named cruise industry veteran Vicki Freed as the company's senior vice president, sales.
Freed joins the company after 29 years with Carnival Cruise Lines, where she spent the last 15 years as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to that, Freed served in a variety of sales management positions within the cruise line.
From 1998 to 2000, Freed also served as the first, and only, female chairman of the Cruise Line International Association, the marketing and travel agent training arm of the North American cruise industry.
"Vicki has an outstanding and proven background within our industry and we are very pleased to have her join our team," said Adam Goldstein, president and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean International. "Vicki's passionate support of travel agents has been well chronicled and recognized. She will be a great asset to our brand as we continue to grow."
In her new role, Freed will take charge of the company's 345-person sales force, the largest sales team in the cruise industry. She will also manage the company's Trade Support and Services division, which includes Reservations, Group Sales, Customer Service, and Loyalty Programs. Freed will report to Goldstein.
Freed earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Colorado, and holds a Certified Travel Counselor designation. She also serves as a trustee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County.
Vicki has always been a great supporter and team member to YTB and I wish her well. She understands our model and recognizes how our large numbers of small producers can create impressive sales for a cruise line. She was present during the Funshine show in Orlando awarding YTB it’s third Pinnacle Award, and attended one of the largest, (if not THE largest) crowd for a single CLIA training on record. It will be interesting to see if we have lost a true ally in this industry, or if this ally can knock some sense into a very stubborn cruise line.
I don’t know Vicki personally, but what I do know of her, is she is a very warm and decent person. She could also hold her own with the Travel Agents who ridiculed her when she publicly supported YTB and the MLM model.
Makes me wonder if she could do the same with RCCL?
Hmmmm.
Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
Book Your Travel & Vacations With
Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635
Labels: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Vicki Freed, YTB Travel Network
Maybe Vicki can help turn things around at RCCL? After all she should know how much YTB can do right?
I heard YTB already has 40,000 bookings with Carnival this year alone, and Vicki should know that as well.
Let's hope she could be the voice of reason over there to get RCCL to see the light.
Posted by
Anonymous |
Friday, January 18, 2008
I do agree that Vicki certainly knows how much YTB actually books with Carnival Dale. It would be interesting to see if she has any clout in her new position.
I have also heard about the 40,000 bookings, and they are also 7 day equivalent bookings from my understanding. (One 3 day and one 4 day cruise would equal one 7 day, so on and so forth.) Vicki should also know that Kim’s goal is to book 100,000 7 day equivalent bookings with Carnival this year. He believes that will place YTB in the #1 spot with the #1 cruise line in the world.
There is rumor from the other side that Vicki was the only ally for YTB with Carnival, and with her gone, YTB’s days are numbered. I’ve also read already that Carnival has plans to go “net” and cut commissions out completely.
I don’t buy either for a second, not with the amount of business we either point in their direction or book with them directly. They know who the new bread of Travel Agent is and they have bent over backwards to make sure YTB and Carnival is firmly entrenched.
Posted by
TravelPro |
Friday, January 18, 2008