Azamara^® Announces the Appointment of Michelle Lardizabal as Chief Sales Officer, North America

MIAMI, FL (August 23, 2021): – Azamara – the boutique cruise line dedicated to Destination Immersion^® experiences – is pleased to announce the appointment of seasoned travel industry executive, Michelle Lardizabal as Chief Sales Officer, North America. She will be leading the charge of the brand’s North America sales organization alongside cruise industry experts: Katie Gerhard, AVP of Sales, East; Lori Goldspiel, AVP of Sales, West and National Accounts; Kevin Regan, AVP of Global Charters and Incentives. 

“With her wealth of knowledge in tourism, cruising and retail, Michelle is the ideal candidate to lead Azamara’s sales team as we continue to grow as an independent cruise company, and continue to better serve our valued travel partners,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “Her passion for travel will propel us forward as we further our commitment to connecting people to people, people to cultures, and traveling deeper to the heart of destinations around the world.”

Lardizabal joins Azamara with over 25 years of experience in tourism and cruising. Most recently she served as Senior Vice President and Commercial Sales Officer for MSC Cruises USA, where she drove the overall strategy of the sales organization in the U.S. market and oversaw relationship development with the industry’s most valued travel industry partners. Having also held executive positions at Club Med, City Wonders, and Royal Caribbean Group, Lardizabal has invaluable experience leading global sales efforts both on land and at sea across multiple industries, perfectly aligning with the Azamara vision of delivering unique Destination Immersion experiences.