Press Center

 

	Corporate Contact: Maureen McKeon  press@seasite.com 305-403-4002

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MIAMI, FL (March 18, 2010) – Seasite has appointed Mark Phillips to the new position of Chief Operating Officer. Phillips, founding team member at StarCite, Inc. and, most recently, Managing Director/Vice President, International Markets for StarCite, will leverage his broad meetings industry contacts and expertise to deepen Seasite’s penetration of the global MICE market and  accelerate the use of Seasite.com, the first online cruise portal for meeting and event planners. 

Phillips’ appointment to this pivotal new role is “a defining moment for our company,” said Jo Kling, CEO Seasite. “Mark’s track record with StarCite paves the way for Seasite’s strategic relationships with travel professionals around the world who want to add cruise venues to their portfolio to reap the benefits and ROI of the underutilized cruise sector.”

 

“His global sales and operations know-how will be a tremendous benefit to our company“ added Joyce Landry, co-founder of Seasite, “and, since leaving StarCite, Mark has been consulting with Financial Times 1000 companies on initiatives to improve operational efficiencies and global reach. This exposure has multiplied the assets he brings to Seasite.”

As COO, Mark will assume day-to-day oversight of Seasite, including business development, marketing, strategic partnerships and all operations. This reorganization will allow owners Seasite to focus on strategic growth initiatives, key relationships and diversifying cruise products as the company anticipates exponential growth. Current products range from simple cruise sourcing/brokering via Seasite, to custom planning for incentive cruises and ship charters, and cruise logistics for global events using floating hotels.  

Seasite tapped Phillips to enhance the electronic product capabilities of Seasite as well as expand their international footprint, as he did with StarCite, developing offices in the UK, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong and China. Phillips’ extended experience with Strategic Meetings Management Programs and Strategic Sourcing initiatives will enable Seasite and cruise line partners to bring a new voice into meeting industry conversations which typically have not included cruises in the past.  

Additional expertise gleaned from 8 years in the hotel industry will enable Phillips to find unique solutions and opportunities for Seasite clients as well as partner suppliers, based on his first hand experiences at Hilton International Hotels and Cunard Hotels as Rooms Division Manager, Group Technology Representative , Front Office Trainer and Manager.

Phillips has been an active member and speaker for key industry organizations including MPI, ACTE, NBTA, HSMAI and HEDNA. He is a former board member of the Hospitality Industry Software Council and contributes frequently to media outlets as a topical expert on global meetings, small meetings, expense tracking, audit and compliance issues.  

“Seasite owes its success to a corporate culture that is driven by passion, professionalism, creativity and the willingness to revolutionize and reinvent,” states Joyce Landry. “Mark has a reputation as an innovative leader. That, along with being extremely focused and strategic, are among his many attributes that will help take us to greater heights”