Europe Express Strengthens Sales Leadership Team with Key Promotions

Europe Express announced today three sales leadership promotions, reflecting the tour operator’s commitment to supporting trade partnerships among host agencies, consortia partners, and the travel advisor community.

The tour operator has promoted Carmen Gashnikov to director of strategic partnerships, and BDMs Amanda O’Connell and Chad Long to strategic account managers.

As director of strategic partnerships, Gashnikov will lead Europe Express’ relationship management with consortia, host agencies, and top-performing agencies. In addition to overseeing the strategic account managers, she will work with executive leadership to grow and strengthen partnerships within the partner networks.

Gashnikov has been with Europe Express since 2019. Over the years, she has worked her way up from sales development manager to director of host partnerships. Prior to joining the tour operator, she held sales roles at Bedsonline and Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.

“Carmen has a deep understanding of the host agency landscape and the advisor community we serve,” said Parik Laxminarayan, CEO. “She’s built strong relationships across the industry and has been instrumental in helping advisors grow their businesses with Europe Express.”

As strategic account managers, Long and O’Connell will work to strengthen travel advisor engagement at Europe Express and will represent the tour operator at industry events, trade shows, and education programs.

O’Connell is an experienced sales leader with the travel sector. She has worked as a BDM for Europe Express since 2021, and has held management roles with Trafalgar Travel and Liberty Travel. Long has been with Europe Express, working as a BDM, since 2022. He held a similar role at Unique Vacations, where he worked with the trade for over four years.