Aerin Chauncey joins Exoticca as director of sales for Atlantic Canada

Tour operator Exoticca has expanded its sales and trade support in Canada with the hiring of Aerin Chauncey, PAX has learned.

Chauncey, formally a business development manager at Manulife Travel Insurance, has been named director of sales for Atlantic Canada for the growing brand.

In her new role, Chauncey will focus on driving revenue growth and expanding Exoticca’s market presence in the Atlantic Canada region.

“My key objective will be to build and maintain strong relationships with our partners, clients, and key stakeholders to ensure ongoing satisfaction and repeat business for Exoticca Tours. This role is pivotal in enhancing our company's competitive edge and achieving sustainable growth in the travel industry,” said Chauncey, who also worked at Flight Centre Travel Group, holding various titles, from travel agent to senior operations leader, over the course of 17 years.

Exoticca, which is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, first launched in 2013 to serve the European market. It made its Canadian debut in 2019.

The tour operator offers private and customizable experiences, led by local guides, in nearly 60 countries. For travel advisors, all the components of an Exoticca trip are commissionable.

“I love supporting my Atlantic Canada partners”

What is Chauncey looking forward to the most in her new role?

“This is a tough one to narrow down,” Chauncey told PAX, “so here are my top three – one, the agents. I love supporting my Atlantic Canada partners. Two, the team. I'm so lucky to be part of such a strong team of travel legends. And three, the product! I'm excited to help bring the Exoticca brand to more Canadians.”

Chauncey, who is based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, joins a team of bold-faced names that have joined Exoticca’s Canadian sales team in recent years, including Diana Winters (in Ontario) and Sharon Wilson (in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and Cindy Chau (in British Columbia).

She’s seen “all sides of the business”

Mike Quinto, Exoticca’s vice-president of sales for Canada, said he “couldn't be more excited to have Aerin on our team.”

“She's an industry veteran, with more than 20 years of experience, who has seen all sides of the business, from being an agent, managing agencies, corporate travel, to a BDM with Manulife Insurance. She's seen it all,” Quinto told PAX.

On growing Exoticca’s support and presence in Atlantic Canada, Quinto noted how the company began seeing a “huge demand” in that region starting in August last year.

“It's an amazing area, with some incredible agents, and we knew we needed the right person in that territory to help the agents and our industry partners,” Quinto said. “And who better for the job than Aerin. We couldn't be happier.”

Aerin Chauncey can be reached at aerin.chauncey@exoticca.com.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.