Nick Hughes, formerly with Princess Cruises, will join Scenic Group as UK and Ireland Sales Director in January 2024.
- He will report directly to Nichola Absalom, who has recently been promoted to UK Managing Director, Sales and Marketing.
- Hughes will oversee sales and partnerships for Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours and Emerald Cruises from Manchester.
- Absalom expressed confidence in Hughes’s ability to contribute to the ambitious growth plans of the company.
- Princess Cruises have expressed gratitude for Hughes’s contributions and will begin recruitment for his replacement.
Nick Hughes, previously the sales director for Princess Cruises UK and Europe, is set to join Scenic Group at the start of January 2024 in the role of UK and Ireland Sales Director. His move signifies a strategic transition to Scenic Group, where he will be instrumental in furthering the sales efforts of Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, alongside Emerald Cruises.
In his new position, Hughes will be working under the guidance of Nichola Absalom, the newly elevated UK Managing Director responsible for sales and marketing. Absalom, who will be based in Manchester, voiced her excitement about Hughes joining the team at such an opportune time. “We are delighted that Nick has agreed to join us,” she remarked, “His extensive expertise and industry knowledge are invaluable assets that align perfectly with our forward-looking goals.”
A key element of Hughes’s new role will involve steering the sales and partnerships for Scenic and Emerald Cruises, focusing on expanding their market presence and enhancing customer engagement. This role is pivotal as Scenic Group aims to harness recent expansions, including the addition of new ocean ships, Scenic Eclipse II and Emerald Sakkara.
Hughes effused about the opportunity, stating, “It is a very exciting time to join the Scenic Group… The guest experiences they deliver are truly market-leading and highly desirable.” His confidence in the potential for growth within the UK and Ireland sectors is palpable, and he anticipates contributing significantly to the brand’s success.
Princess Cruises UK and Europe vice president Eithne Williamson acknowledged Hughes’s dedication and expertise, stating that he would be greatly missed. The position he vacates will be filled through a recruitment initiative as Princess looks to maintain its leadership in the cruise industry.
Nick Hughes’s transition to Scenic Group points to strategic growth ambitions and a fresh chapter for his career and the company.
