Paul Gauguin Cruises Appoints Ms. Rita Sandy as New Director of Sales, Southwest Region

 

BELLEVUE, WA – May 27, 2010 – Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest rated and longest continually-sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, names Ms. Rita Sandy as their new Director of Sales, Southwest Region.  Ms. Sandy will be responsible for developing business opportunities with travel companies located in Southern California (from West Los Angeles, including Malibu, to San Diego County), Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Hawaii.

Ms. Sandy joins the Paul Gauguin Cruises team with more than fifteen years of sales experience within the travel industry.  Prior to joining Paul Gauguin Cruises, she represented resorts, hotels and wholesale tour operators, including Posadas USA, Runaway Tours and Creative Leisure International.  Ms. Sandy is a celebrated sales leader, well-versed in the upscale luxury market.  She is effective in selling value-added services as well as cultivating new business opportunities and marketing strategies in leisure travel.

“I am delighted to welcome Rita Sandy to our team.  We are confident Rita’s extensive sales experience will prove to be instrumental in assisting her colleagues in reaching current and future company goals,” comments Peter Valiando, Chief Operating Officer.

In other company news, Christine Anderson, formerly Director of Sales for the Southwest Region, will continue her position as Vice President of National Accounts for Paul Gauguin Cruises.  Joyce Simon, formerly the District Sales Manager for the Northwest Region, has resigned due to personal reasons and her replacement will be announced shortly.   Ms. Simon will however continue to assist Paul Gauguin Cruises in an advisory capacity.

For additional information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, call (800)-848-6172 or visit the Travel Agent Center at www.pgcruises.com.   Rita Sandy can be contacted directly at (425)-440-6171 (corporate office), (949)-212-9551 (mobile) or rsandy@pgcruises.com. 

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., the leader in French Polynesia luxury destination resorts, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the award-winning luxury cruise ship m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a luxury cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific. The m/s Paul Gauguin was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship is 513 feet long, 71 feet wide and has a draft of 16.9 feet. The ship can accommodate 332 guests with a staff of 215 and is one of the top Exclusive Charter and Incentive Group venues in the industry. The m/s Paul Gauguin has undergone more than $25 million in enhancements since its inaugural sail in 1998. Since 1998, the m/s Paul Gauguin has completed more than 500 South Pacific cruises and served more than 140,000 guests, including more than 12,000 honeymooners.

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