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| Leslie Peden // All photos by Rocky Mountaineer |
Rocky Mountaineer, the luxury train travel provider through Western Canada, reports two new appointments within its international sales team that impacts the growing U.S. market.
Leslie Peden, who has been Rocky Mountaineer’s director of sales, Europe, will replace Karen Hardie Wiseman as director of sales, USA as of January 1, 2014. He will be based in Orlando, Florida.
Wiseman will relocate to Vancouver, Canada, Rocky Mountaineer’s head office and assume the title of director, global sales and operations. In addition, there are further plans to grow the U.S. sales team from four full-time employees to seven by 2014, the company said.
“As a result of significant growth in 2013 and even higher incremental growth forecasted for 2014 in the USA, we have chosen to restructure and expand our already dynamic team,” says Bob Nicholas, vice president, global sales of Rocky Mountaineer. “Nurturing the talent of our current sales leaders will ensure a successful business transition and record results for the coming years.”
Leslie Peden, the new director, USA Sales, will assume responsibility of the company’s largest and fastest growing market. "The creation of an office in Florida will place Leslie at the epicentre of the cruise travel industry, which represents nearly half of Rocky Mountaineer’s current clientele."
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| Karen Hardie Wiseman |
Karen Hardie Wiseman will lead the inside sales team while continuing to enhance communications with external and internal industry partners.
Rocky Mountaineer offers over 45 vacation packages and five unique rail routes through the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia and Alberta.
In 2014, Rocky Mountaineer will introduce 24 departures on its new Coastal Passage route, connecting Seattle WA and the Canadian Rockies. It is the company’s first rail journey to and from the United States. The route can also be connected with cruise itineraries as part of a new partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line.
Recently, Rocky Mountaineer launched a new television marketing campaign to build buzz for its new products. In the 30 and 60 second TV spots, currently running in Ontario, North Carolina and nationally across Australia, guests are asked to describe what it is like to travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train through the Canadian Rockies.
RELATED: Rocky Mountaineer Collects Guests' Reactions for New TV Campaign (VIDEO)
Since its inception in 1990, the company has grown to become the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America and reports more than one and a half million guests from around the world.