Antarctica21 is expanding its commercial team covering the U.S. and Canadian trade, a move timed to the start of its 2026-27 season and aimed squarely at the region that already generates 40 percent of the operator's guest base.

The Chile-based expedition operator, which pioneered the Antarctic fly-cruise model that bypasses the Drake Passage, expects that North American share to grow. The restructuring gives travel sellers in the region more dedicated points of contact — and signals where Antarctica21 sees future booking volume concentrated.

"North America has always been an important source market for Antarctica21, both in terms of volume and the valuable trade partners who have worked with us over the past two decades," said Crystal Manafi, market manager for the USA and Canada, in the announcement. "Our team is built on relationships, and we continue to invest in the region to give our partners more ways to grow their Antarctic fly-cruise business."

The new structure

Manafi leads the restructured team. Stephanie Vrantsis steps into the newly created role of key account manager, holding a portfolio of strategic commercial partnerships across both the U.S. and Canada — a role that suggests Antarctica21 is segmenting its trade distribution, separating top-producing accounts from the broader partner base.

Two business development managers cover the rest of the map: Ryan Campbell handles the West, and Kirk Anthony manages the East. Rounding out the team, two travel consultants handle inquiries and day-to-day support directly with travel designers.

For advisors, the practical effect is a clearer account hierarchy: high-volume partners get dedicated key account management, while all others work through regional BDMs backed by consultant-level support.

Capacity and season context

The expansion coincides with the launch of Antarctica21's 2026-27 season this month, which marks the debut of the Magellan Discoverer, adding hardware to the operator's fleet as it pushes for North American growth.

The operator frames the announcement as building on a strong 2025-26 season, in which Antarctica21 carried travelers from 53 nationalities across 42 voyages to Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Chilean Fjords.

Those figures come from a company press release rather than audited passenger counts, and Antarctica21 did not disclose absolute guest numbers or load factors — data points that would allow a fuller read on whether the 40 percent North American share translates into thousands of bookings or a smaller premium niche.

Why it matters for sellers

Antarctic fly-cruise product sits at the high end of expedition travel, where commissions per booking run substantial and advisor loyalty drives distribution. An operator allocating more headcount to North American trade support typically means more co-marketing dollars, training and prioritized inventory for partners in the region.

The restructure also arrives ahead of what operators across the polar segment are treating as a growth cycle, with new vessels and expanded itineraries increasing capacity across Antarctica broadly. How Antarctica21 fills the Magellan Discoverer's berths — and through which channels — will be a measure of whether the expanded team converts relationships into share.

The operator says it expects North America's 40 percent share of its guest base to grow further; the first evidence will come in the booking patterns of the 2026-27 season now underway.