The former Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Azamara Club Cruises has crossed on over to river cruising as the new President and Chief Executive of Uniworld.
Ellen Bettridge succeeds Guy Young, who is being promoted to take on two new roles within The Travel Corporation (TTC).
Effective 6 August 2016, Bettridge will assume her new role, working closely alongside Young, to ensure a smooth transition for the team and the industry.
As part of the new gig, she will be responsible for overseeing and managing Uniworld’s global business, including operations and financial performance, product development, the industry’s foremost guest experience, service enrichment and onboard/onshore programming. She will also specifically focus on growing and expanding Uniworld’s business, as well as furthering its leadership and innovation within the river cruise industry.
Image: @BettridgeEllen/Twitter
Brett Tollman, TTC CEO, said Bettridge will make a “consequential and instrumental contribution” to Uniworld.
“She is a superbly capable and talented travel industry professional, with an exceptional reputation and a winning track-record.”
Brett Tollman, TTC CEO
Bettridge joins Uniworld from Azamara Club Cruises, where she has served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing, responsible for growing Azamara’s markets in the Americas, as well as for developing strategic relationships with trade and marketing partners.
Previously, Bettridge held the position of President, Americas at Silversea Cruise Ltd., where she developed and implemented successful sales strategies and marketing campaigns throughout the Americas.
Prior to Silversea, Bettridge held various roles with American Express, spanning more than 20 years, initially as a Travel Counsellor and most recently as Vice President Retail Travel Business.
Bettridge said it’s an honour to join the “world’s finest river cruise line” and to work with Tollman and the entire Uniworld team to “ensure that the brand continues to lead and maintain the standard of excellence in the river cruise industry”.
Further adding to the news, Fiona Dalton, MD Uniworld Australia said the company is “thrilled to have someone with Ellen’s credentials on board”.
“I look forward working with her and introducing her to our valued industry partners in Australia in the near future,” she said.
Young will continue to be based in LA, and his promotion will see him take on two newly-created and important roles within the parent company: Global Brand Engagement Officer with TTC, reporting to Brett Tollman, and President of Costsaver, Trafalgar’s fast-growing value brand proposition, reporting to Gavin Tollman, CEO of Trafalgar.