Sarina Bratton “special advisor” to Compagnie du Ponant.
Luxury expedition cruise operator Compagnie du Ponant has just announced the appointment of Australian cruise industry doyenne Sarina Bratton to spearhead its international development, “with a special focus on the Asia Pacific region, as both key destinations and source markets”.
Future plans for the company include the positioning of a new expedition ship in and around Australia from late 2015, for a program of itineraries featuring Australia, Asia and the Pacific islands.
A Sydney-based regional management and sales operation will be formally launched in the coming weeks, with the company to “also heavilly promote accessiblity to other unique global expedition destinations with its existing expedition ships L’Austral, Le Boreal and Le Soreal and its spectacular sailing ship Le Ponant“.
Bratton, who formed Orion Expedition Cruises in early 2004 and sold her remaining shares in the business to Lindblad Expeditions earlier this year, said that Compagnie du Ponant had the “assets and balance sheet to become the global leader in small and five-star expedition ship operations.
“It is a real honour and a challenge to be a part of this unique business, both to help with the internationalisation of Compagnie du Ponant and also to bring a unique luxury product into a market I know so well,” she said.
More information in the next isssue of Cruise Weekly.