Name: Alicia Cummings
PHOTO: © PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES
Title: Vice President, Marketing
Company, city: Paul Gauguin Cruises; Bellevue, Washington
Number of employees: 50 in the marketing, sales and operations departments in Bellevue
Recent project: Planning our marketing efforts for 2020. First job: Driving a wheat truck on our small family farm in Eastern Washington.
Little-known fact about you: I drove a 1965 Ford Mercury throughout high school.
YOUR BUSINESS
What innovations or initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next few years?
The cruise industry continues to evolve with fresh, creative ideas that enhance the guest experience. New destinations are emerging while dining concepts, onboard activities, technological advances, and sustainability initiatives are elevating the standard. Exclusive, immersive experiences and multigenerational, experiential cruising remain strong trends. Overall, cruising offers travelers access to diverse destinations with compelling value, and innovation will keep expanding what’s possible both ashore and on board.
Best career advice you’ve received:
Take advantage of every opportunity, even if it falls outside your formal job responsibilities. Stretching into new roles helps you learn to collaborate with different people, broadens your perspective, and demonstrates commitment and capability to others.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the field?
Find a mentor you respect and admire, and learn as much as you can from them. Observing how experienced professionals approach challenges and opportunities accelerates your growth.
AS A TRAVELER
Favorite travel memory or story:
One of my favorite memories is my first time snorkeling in Bora Bora. The warm water and the kaleidoscopic display of exotic fish and stingrays were breathtaking and unforgettable.
One travel tip you cannot live without:
Always carry a light blanket for the plane ride — airplane cabins often alternate between too warm and too cold, and a blanket makes long flights far more comfortable.
Best advice for business travelers:
If possible, avoid traveling on Mondays and Fridays; those are typically the busiest and least predictable travel days.
ABOUT YOUR BRAND
What can readers expect from Paul Gauguin’s 2020 itineraries?
Paul Gauguin Cruises delivers an authentic Polynesian experience infused with South Seas exclusives. We focus on bringing destinations to life for guests both ashore and on board. Sailing Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific year-round, our 2020 schedule highlights voyages to islands with white-sand beaches, vivid lagoons, mist-laden mountains and warm Polynesian culture. Featured itineraries include seven-night Tahiti & the Society Islands; seven-night Society Islands & Tahiti Iti; 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; and 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands, as well as 12- and 13-night Fiji, Tonga, Cook & Society Islands sailings and an exotic 16-night Fiji-to-Bali voyage.
What does Paul Gauguin offer premium travelers?
Designed for the pristine lagoons of the region, the award-winning, 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin is a vessel crafted for intimate exploration. Nearly 70 percent of suites and staterooms have balconies, and higher-category accommodations include butler service. Dining options feature L’Etoile for refined evening meals, La Veranda and Le Grill for breakfast and lunch, and evening specialties that showcase French culinary influence alongside Polynesian flavors.
Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins, our troupe of Tahitian entertainers, enrich each voyage with authentic cultural performances. Expert lecturers and special guests join select sailings to present on topics from South Pacific history to conservation, culture, marine life and coral reefs. The ship also offers a luxurious spa, fitness center, watersports marina with kayaking and paddle boarding, expansive outdoor decks, chaise longues and a pool.
Each sailing includes exclusive access to Motu Mahana, our private islet off Taha’a, where guests can sunbathe, swim, snorkel, kayak, participate in Polynesian activities, enjoy a full-service bar and floating lagoon bar, and share a beach barbecue. In Bora Bora, guests have complimentary access to a private white-sand beach with beach volleyball, snorkeling and paddle boarding.
With Ponant acquiring Paul Gauguin, what does the future hold for the company?
The acquisition by Ponant enables Paul Gauguin Cruises to grow the brand and offer additional luxury, small-ship experiences while remaining true to our commitment to authentic travel, outstanding service and sustainable practices. Our focus is on preserving the unique character of the destinations we visit and continuing to provide exceptional, culturally rich voyages.