Starboard brings luxury pro on board in Asia

LVMH-owned Starboard Cruise Services has hired a seasoned luxury goods executive, Emily Wong, to the new role of Vice President/General Manager for Asia – signalling the possible direction its on-board cruise retail offer will take in the region.

Wong joins from sister Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton company, the fashion label Marc Jacobs, where she was the Managing Director for Asia Pacific for just over three years until August 2015.

Before that she worked at Nike for almost five years, Timberland for two years, and Swiss leather goods house bally for 17 years.

In her new role based in Hong Kong and also Shanghai, Wong will report to David Goubert, Senior Vice President, Luxury Cruise Retail & Asia Office.

CRUISELINES PLACE FAITH IN CHINA

Earlier this year at the TFWA show in Singapore, Goubert was very upbeat about cruise prospects in Asia.

He said that large cruise lines were committing strongly to the region and that, for example, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s new ship Quantum of the Seas is based out of Shanghai. He said that sister newcomer Ovation was also set to be placed in the region from Q2 2016. RCCL is a partner of Starboard.

“On board it’s about the brands,” says Goubert. “The ships are a global destination and our mission is to give our guests an unforgettable experience and create a memory of their vacation.”