Lesley Berry joins Celebrity as field sales manager, Western Ontario

A familiar face in Canada’s travel industry is taking on a new role with Celebrity Cruises Canada.

Effective Thursday (Sept. 17), Lesley Berry has joined the team as a field sales manager for Western Ontario, PAX has learned.

She fills a role previously managed by Sandra Pennington, who moved into the position of strategic business development manager for Eastern Canada at Azamara in July, succeeding Margarita Peloso, who retired.

Based in Woodstock, ON, Berry brings a unique mix of travel industry, sales, marketing and customer service experience to her new position.

Most recently, she spent more than three years with the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA), joining as membership services coordinator in 2023 before serving as interim events and meetings manager and, most recently, membership manager.

Prior to ACTA, Berry, according to LinkedIn, worked as a vacation coordinator with David’s Disney Vacation Club Rentals and spent more than five years as a certified travel counsellor with The Travel Agent Next Door.

Her aviation background includes nearly three years with Swoop as a lead flight attendant and trainer.

"Lesley brings more than a decade of experience within the travel industry, with a diverse background spanning multiple areas of the business. Her expertise, industry knowledge, and passion for supporting partners will be invaluable as she takes on this new role," wrote Celebrity's Allan Brooks, national director of market sales for Canada, in an email that was sent to travel partners on Thursday.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lesley to the team and look forward to the fresh perspectives, strong relationships, and exceptional support she will bring to our travel partner community."

Berry expressed her enthusiasm for the new role in a social media post on Thursday.

"I am incredibly excited to reconnect with familiar faces, strengthen existing relationships, and meet new partners across the region," she wrote. "The travel community has always felt like family to me, and I'm grateful for the friendships and connections built throughout my career."

"As I begin this new chapter, I'm looking forward to supporting our travel advisor community and helping you grow your Celebrity Cruises business with the exceptional experiences our brand is known for."

Lesley Berry can now be reached at lberry@celebrity.com.

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