Classic Vacations Expands Sales Team with 3 New Hires

Classic Vacations has announced the expansion of its sales team with the addition of three new hires.

In a LinkedIn post, the luxury travel company welcomed Benjamin Cross, Joanna Parker, and Heather Carpenter to the sales team. Cross and Parker have been named strategic account manager, and Parker as business development manager (BDM).

Cross joins Classic Vacations with over 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, working with respected brands such as Globus and American Queen. Most recently, he served as a BDM for Premier World Discovery from 2024 to 2026.

“Throughout his career, [Cross] has developed a deep appreciation for the work travel advisors do in creating thoughtful, personalized experiences for their clients,” Classic Vacations said in the post. “Benjamin is excited to focus exclusively on supporting the advisor community while continuing to build strong industry partnerships.”

Parker brings to the sales role experience in account management, operations leadership, training, and partner development in trade-facing roles. She joins from Corporate Travel Management, where she spent the last 10 years. Most recently, she held the role of director of operations, North America.

Said Classic Vacations: “[Parker’s] background working closely with independent advisors and host agency partners has given her a strong appreciation for relationship-driven support and collaborative partnerships. Joanna is excited to bring her industry expertise and advisor-focused approach to the Classic team while continuing to build meaningful connections across the industry.”

Finally, Carpenter is a newcomer to the travel industry. She joins Classic Vacations from the music industry, where she worked in marketing and promotions roles for large companies such as Universal Music Group and Capitol Christian Music Group.