28 May 2011
Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is opening an office in Paris, France this summer to expand its European business.
The office will be led by managing director Frederic Martinez, who holds a doctorate from Sorbonne University and speaks six languages.
Martinez was a vice president for Europe at American Express in Paris. He previously had been marketing director for the Americas, managing director for Venezuela and director of global business for Air France-KLM.
The new office will have about 40 employees in sales, marketing and commercial operations representing several company brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. Ships from those lines already call on French ports. Next year, Royal Caribbean will add sailings from France in a broader European expansion.
Staff at the Paris office also will encourage Europeans to take the company's cruises from Florida and the Caribbean, a statement said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world’s second largest cruise company, now operates 40 cruise ships worldwide and has four under construction. Its fleet features the world's largest ships: Oasis and Allure of the Seas. Its lines include Spain-based Pullmantur and CDF Croisieres de France.
The company reported net income of $91.6 million on revenues of $1.7 billion in the first quarter this year.
For more information on Royal Caribbean’s business, visit www.rclinvestor.com.