Aurora Expeditions Expands Sales Team, Adds Erick Valdes for Midwest & Key Accounts
by Daniel McCarthy
Photo: Erick Valdes
Aurora Expeditions continues to add to its sales team, with another trade-facing hire joining the expedition cruise company.
The company announced this week that Erick Valdes will serve as director of sales for the Midwest and key accounts.
Valdes previously spent more than a decade at Royal Caribbean, including some time as a national account manager. Most recently, he served as the corporate director of sales with Xanterra Parks and Resorts.
In a message on his social media, Valdes said that “after 20 years in the travel industry, I truly feel like every step of the journey has prepared me for this role. I’m excited to work closely with my accounts and help introduce more travelers to this extraordinary brand.”
Valdes is the second major trade-facing hiring that Aurora has made in the past few weeks.
The other is Anthony Iozzia, who joined Aurora as sales director, Northeast and key accounts a few weeks ago. Iozzia previously served as regional sales director for Atlas Ocean Voyages, the luxury line that itself has been revamping its sales team, and for Windstar Cruises. He also spent time with Celebrity Cruises.
