“I am thrilled”: Shane Buksh joins Four Seasons Yachts as director of trade sales

Shane Buksh is back in business.

After departing Seabourn in July as North American director of national accounts after parent company Carnival Corporation consolidated his team with Holland America Line, the Vancouver-based sales pro has landed a new (and very sweet) job with Four Seasons Yachts as the brand’s director of trade sales, effective Oct. 7. 

“Four Seasons Yachts is redefining luxury at sea, and I am thrilled to be part of the team selling this to the luxury consumer and, of course, working with the trade,” said Buksh in an exclusive interview with PAX. “The amount of love and support that I have received in the past two months while I transitioned roles was incredible. I was truly humbled, and it made me realize what an amazing network of people we work with in the trade community. So, I'm excited to be back out there, and be one of the faces of Four Seasons Yachts.”

Anticipated to set sail in January 2026, Four Seasons Yachts, which brings the bespoke service of a Four Seasons hotel to the ocean, is for “discerning guests looking to reimagine their love of travel by experiencing the splendour of modern sea voyaging,” the company said previously.

The first of a fleet of Four Seasons Yachts, which are being built in Ancona, Italy, will span 14 decks and include 95 suites.

The Four Seasons I, at 679 ft. in length, promises panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling windows and access to expansive private terraces. In the spirit of Four Seasons, the ship is as glam as it comes, with each custom-designed suite reportedly costing about $4.2 million (USD) to build.

With “ultimate privacy, flexibility and spaciousness” in mind, the adaptable joining combinations integrated into each unit promise villa-like estates in a nautical residential setting.

In this newly-created role, Buksh will be tasked with introducing Canada – and the rest of the world – to this highly-anticipated, ultra-luxe yacht experience. 

He will be responsible for driving the brand’s B2B sales strategy in certain global regions, with a strong North America focus, to achieve travel agency performance targets while overseeing sales initiatives.

His role also involves developing and maintaining high-profile relationships with key travel agencies, luxury travel professionals, and executives to promote and secure high-value individual, group/MICE and charter sales.

Buksh, in other words, will be a prominent voice and face of Four Seasons Yachts in travel trade circles.

“After spending the last three years in the luxury segment, I knew I wanted to stay in that space,” Buksh told PAX. “For years though, the hotel world became of interest to me as well. Knowing that Four Seasons was coming out with a yacht in early 2026, I figured this would be a perfect way to bridge the two.”

“Plus, there is arguable no other name in the hotel segment that is more reputable globally than Four Seasons. So, I knew that it will be respected from the start. Thankfully, this role will allow me to still be based in Vancouver, and work with advisors and oversee trade sales across North America as well as across the globe.”

Buksh is no stranger to sales at sea. In addition to Seabourn, he has also managed accounts for Royal Caribbean International.

Prior to joining the cruise industry, he worked at Flight Centre for more than ten years, taking on various management and team leader positions.

Buksh, with “pride and excitement,” took to his Facebook page on Thursday (Oct. 3) to break the news to his followers.

“A new season is upon us, and with that, I am ready to turn over a new leaf,” he wrote, announcing his new position, noting that “the ocean would always be calling me back.”

“For 26 years, the travel industry has supported my professional growth, creating lasting friendships, and has allowed me to make memories around the world,” Buksh wrote. “So it goes without saying, it is an industry that has shaped me to who I am today, and will proudly continue to be a part of.”

Shane’s new email (which will activate Oct. 7) is SBuksh@FourSeasonsYachts.com.

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