Fred Holidays has appointed Danielle Bates as head of UK sales to enhance Lindblad Expeditions’ exposure and market share.
- Danielle Bates, with 15 years at Fred Olsen Travel, will focus on UK relationships for Lindblad Expeditions.
- Bates’ role reports to Tricia Birmingham at Fred Holidays and Christine Stevens at Lindblad Expeditions.
- Fred Holidays will create UK-focused marketing and PR campaigns for Lindblad Expeditions.
- Expedition cruising interest is on the rise, with warmer destinations gaining popularity.
Fred Holidays has taken a strategic step by appointing Danielle Bates as the head of UK sales, a newly created role aimed at boosting Lindblad Expeditions’ presence in the region. This announcement marks a significant development in the collaboration between Fred Holidays and Lindblad Expeditions, focusing on enhancing brand exposure and increasing market share within the United Kingdom.
Danielle Bates brings a wealth of experience from her 15-year tenure at Fred Olsen Travel. Her role will concentrate on managing and nurturing the relationship between Fred Holidays and Lindblad Expeditions, a key player in the expedition cruise sector. This pivotal position will allow Bates to leverage her expertise to further establish Lindblad’s footprint in the UK market.
Bates’ reporting structure includes Tricia Birmingham, director of tour operations at Fred Holidays, and Christine Stevens, vice president of national, strategic, and international accounts at Lindblad Expeditions. This organisational alignment reflects the importance of the UK market in the strategic objectives of both companies.
Fred Holidays, recently announced as the general sales agent for Lindblad Expeditions, is tasked with developing targeted sales, marketing, and public relations initiatives aimed at the UK audience. This partnership seeks to promote the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions co-brand, reflecting the growing interest in expedition cruising.
The appointment of Bates coincides with rising enthusiasm for expedition cruising in the UK, highlighted by the inaugural conference of the Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) where warmer cruise destinations like the Seychelles and Africa were predicted to gain popularity. Akvile Marozaite, CEO of the ECN, emphasised the trend towards exploring diverse, non-polar regions, which aligns with Lindblad’s offerings.
Danielle Bates’ appointment signifies a strategic enhancement in Lindblad Expeditions’ presence in the UK market through Fred Holidays.
