Victoria Wheatley

Experience

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  Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC

  Feb 1992 - Feb 2010

  Director, Expedition Cruise Operations (2005–2010) Part of 3-person division with full P&L responsibility for $11M/year in sales. Designed operational strategies to achieve business objectives based on focused analysis, prioritizing requests, and creating business plans for new and existing products and services.  Generated clear, goal-oriented work plans; built strong problem-solving approaches to resolve roadblocks. Established business processes and forged relationships with clients through logistics and operations initiatives; ensured stellar customer service by meeting financial objectives within time and fiscal constraints. Key Program Management Achievements: Encouraged continuous improvement of competitive position by integrating data and feedback from clients, competitors, and industry groups, as well as conducting training for staff members. Monitored programs; authored ongoing reports to analyze performance against strategic plan; and standardized statistical tools for data management, including collection, reporting, and interpretation. Evaluated business opportunities and assessed strategic operations to drive high-quality decision making and investments; facilitated cross-functional teamwork with departments, vessels, ship management companies, and vendors. Earned recognition for operations excellence.Key Project Management Achievements: Authored operational standard procedures and technical assessments. Managed multiple concurrent projects with multidisciplinary project teams and 150+ field staff. Aligned organizational activities across strategic plans. Utilized best practices to ensure operational excellence. Show less Consultant, Manager, Ship Staff & Educational Programs (2003–2005)Manager, Ship Staff & Educational Programs (1992–2003) Developed new expedition cruise operation and managed multiple ships concurrently, with 75+ field personnel, marketing partners, and vendors. Served as Cruise Director to oversee onboard operations of the Expedition Cruise Department and its personnel on voyages around the world for 3–5 months per year. Recruited and hired expedition teams, negotiated benefit packages and contracts, and authored procedural manuals and environmental assessments. Ensured all operations complied with applicable international and domestic laws and regulations for travel and tourism to the visited areas.Key Achievements: Launched several strategic initiatives to improve customer service and standards while reducing operational expenses; established standard operating procedures and quality enhancements with fiscal controls and operational analyses. Grew annual revenue by $5M with new geographic and seasonal cruise products; developed onboard sales program to increase revenues and client loyalty. Fostered an environment of success in which teams surpassed goals and objectives, receiving consistent “exceptional” recognition within end-of-cruise evaluations; crafted team building and leadership programs to expand communication and collaboration to reach a shared vision. Show less

  • Director, Expedition Cruise Operations

    Apr 2005 - Feb 2010

  • Manager, Ship Staff and Educational Programs

    Feb 1992 - Mar 2005
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  US Department of State

  Jan 1999 - now

  Private Sector Advisor (for Antarctica)

  Since 1999 have served as the U.S. government’s Private Sector Antarctic Tourism Advisor and participated as a member of the U.S. delegation attending the annually-held Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. Responsible for: providing government agencies (State Department, NSF, EPA, NOAA and Coast Guard) with informed views on industry policy and advice on technical details of matters under discussion during the course of the meetings, such as proposed industry and visitor regulations, legal, policy and liability matters, management plans, and compliance with environmental impact assessments (including the monitoring and mitigation of human impacts that might develop as a result of tourism activities); advising throughout the year on regulations under consideration monitoring the development of the government’s tourism policy in general and providing updates to the government agencies on industry developments of note. Show less

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  Expedition Cruise Experts & Logistics

  Mar 2010 - now

  Director

  EXCEL provides management support and operational and technical assistance to the expedition travel and cruise industry on a worldwide basis. Project management services include: operational and logistics assistance; personnel recruitment; compliance with domestic and international regulations; preparation for inspections and/or operational audits; compilation of permit applications; assistance with environmental impact assessments; development of team building and leadership models aimed at improving communication, building consensus, collaboration and creating a shared vision; development and implementation of systems to improve quality control, shipboard expedition operations and food and hotel services; third-party auditing of office operation and documentation; development of customer service initiatives; advice as to the development and introduction of new cruise products; infrastructure development and structural improvement (systems, policies and procedures) and development of educational, conservation, research and philanthropic initiatives. Show less

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  Seabourn Cruise Line

  Mar 2012 - May 2014

  Antarctic Project Manager, mv Seabourn Quest

  Antarctic Project Manager on a consulting basis for Seabourn for the mv Seabourn Quest's Antarctic season in 2013-14.

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  Expedition Voyage Consultants Ltd.

  May 2015 - Mar 2018

  President

  Expedition Voyage Consultants provides cruise lines with expert advice on planning and operating all aspects of an expedition. We operate globally with an emphasis on remote coast destinations around the world, but have a strong orientation to the Polar Regions. Our services include organizing, planning and leading trips, providing specialist staff, obtaining permits/authorizations, compiling environmental impact assessments, provisioning of specialist technical advice and logistical support, expedition leadership and management, development and implementation of expedition activities, stakeholder representation, liaison with governmental officials, marketplace analysis, strengths and weaknesses comparison, consultation on expedition ship design, and managing a broad range of activities, including advanced logistics. Our Expedition Leaders have spent decades designing and leading ground-breaking expeditions while our Captains and Ice Masters have been on the bridges of large cruise ships and nimble expedition vessels. Contact us at victoria@expeditionvoyage.com. Show less