Name: Mark Spencer Conroy
Title: Managing Director, The Americas
Company, city: Silversea Cruises; Miami, Fla.
Number of employees: 160 in the Miami office
Recent project: Launched a business-class offering for the 2016 Mediterranean season and unveiled the World Cruise 2018, a 121-day voyage visiting 60 destinations in 21 countries
First job: Caretaker for a lake home in Wisconsin at age 14
Little-known fact about you: Worked as a ski instructor in high school.
Your Business
Essential business philosophy: Deliver exceptional service through intimate, luxurious cruises that connect guests with distant places and cultures. Promote teamwork and open idea sharing to continually improve operations. Encourage staff to think like owners, seek better ways to serve customers and maintain a sense of enjoyment—after all, we help fulfill guests’ dreams.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Know guests’ lifestyles, interests and passions. Listen carefully and anticipate needs rather than react.
Yardstick of success: Guest satisfaction, repeat bookings and high load factors.
Mark Spencer Conroy as a Traveler
Most important items when traveling: My computer and phone—Silversea is a 24/7/365 business.
How I spend time on board: Engaging with guests and crew, enjoying ship activities and amenities, exploring local cultures, and taking in striking scenery and wildlife.
Favorite restaurants: For formal dining, Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée in Paris; for casual meals, Quai des Artistes in Monaco.
Favorite destinations: At sea, the Mediterranean; on land, Paris.
About Silversea Cruises
What premium travelers can expect:
Silversea offers spacious suites, gourmet dining and highly personalized hospitality. Guests experience travel rather than tourism, with opportunities to connect with local cultures and fellow travelers. Butler service is standard on all ships. Our inclusive approach covers beverages (including wines and spirits), an in-suite bar stocked to preference, in-suite and 24-hour dining, enrichment programs and lectures, round-trip transportation into town, onboard gratuities and complimentary WiFi.
Culinary Expedition Voyages and Wellness Theme Cruises:
Culinary Expedition Voyages, available on Silver Explorer, cater to adventurous food-focused travelers. These voyages feature special menus, culinary workshops and discussions, dining in unique historical settings, vineyard tastings and sampling at local markets.
Wellness expedition voyages on Silver Discoverer take guests to off-the-beaten-path well-being destinations across Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean. Complimentary offerings include stretching, yoga, Pilates and fitness classes, one spa massage, daily lectures and cooking demonstrations designed to support both exploration and personal health.
What to expect from Silversea Cruises in 2017:
In April 2017 we launched Silver Muse, our ninth ship, accommodating 596 guests in 298 suites with increased options for connecting suites for families and friends. The ship features eight restaurants, offering more dining options than any other ultra-luxury cruise vessel.
In November 2017 Silver Cloud was repositioned as an expedition ship, providing luxury expedition voyages, primarily in polar regions. It underwent an extensive refurbishment and was converted to ice-class specifications to meet the demands of polar exploration.