A practical guide for Travel Advisors
Europe Express Announces Sales Leadership Promotions and Team Expansion
Carmen Gashnikov is now Director of Strategic Partnerships, along with new roles for Amanda O’Connell and Chad Long as Strategic Account Managers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lynwood, WA, March 23, 2026 — Europe Express, a leading provider of customized European travel experiences for Travel Advisors, today announced the promotion of Carmen Gashnikov to Director of Strategic Partnerships, along with new roles for Amanda O’Connell and Chad Long as Strategic Account Managers.
The appointments reflect Europe Express’s continued focus on strengthening relationships with host agencies, consortia partners, and the Travel Advisor community.
In her new role, Gashnikov will lead Europe Express’s partnerships with key host agencies, consortia organizations, and top-performing agency headquarters. She will oversee the company’s Strategic Account Managers while working closely with executive leadership to expand advisor engagement and support growth across these partner networks.
Gashnikov previously served as Director of Host Partnerships at Europe Express, where she played a central role in building relationships with host agency leaders and supporting Advisor development across the company’s network.
“Carmen has a deep understanding of the host agency landscape and the advisor community we serve,” said Parik Laxminarayan, Chief Executive Officer. “She’s built strong relationships across the industry and has been instrumental in helping Advisors grow their businesses with Europe Express.”
As part of the team expansion, Chad Long and Amanda O’Connell have been promoted to Strategic Account Managers, where they will work closely with host agencies and their affiliated advisors to support training initiatives, marketing programs, and business development opportunities.
Long previously served as Business Development Manager for the Southeast, while O’Connell held the role of Business Development Manager for the Northeast, where both supported Travel Advisors across their regions and helped expand Europe Express’s presence in the market.
In their new roles, Long and O’Connell will collaborate with cross-functional teams across Europe Express to strengthen Advisor engagement and represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and educational programs.
Europe Express partners with Travel Advisors to design customized travel experiences across Europe, providing advisors with destination expertise, personalized itineraries, and dedicated support to help grow their businesses.
For more information, visit www.europeexpress.com.
About Europe Express
Europe Express is a premier wholesale tour operator specializing in customized European travel experiences for Travel Advisors. Since 1990, Europe Express has provided travel professionals with seamless, tailor-made itineraries, competitive pricing, and dedicated support—empowering them to deliver unforgettable journeys to their clients. Continuously growing, Europe Express has operated over 300,000 trips for over 670,000 guests, with a dedicated team of over 150 employees located in five countries. Discover more at www.europeexpress.com or follow us @EuropeExpress.
About Travelopia
Travelopia is the world’s leading collection of experiential travel brands. With primary headquarters in Surbiton, United Kingdom and over 2,500 colleagues across 30 countries worldwide, Travelopia welcomes 400,000 guests each year in over 120 destinations. From wildlife encounters to polar expeditions, from cultural tours to yachting adventures, Travelopia’s business is not just about showing people the world, but designing new ways to experience it. Explore at www.travelopia.com.
About the Author
