THE clear investment roadmap into new ships by cruise lines provides a key opportunity for the travel industry to grow, one which Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) boutique Travel Associates (TA) brand is determined to capitalise on, according to the network’s GM Rachel Kingswell (pictured at left). Speaking to CW...
THE clear investment roadmap into new ships by cruise lines provides a key opportunity for the travel industry to grow, one which Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) boutique Travel Associates (TA) brand is determined to capitalise on, according to the network’s GM Rachel Kingswell (pictured at left).
Speaking to CW in Singapore over the weekend during the Travel Associates Global Luxury Business Leaders Conference, Kingswell said the brand is “laser focused” on cruise right across its outlets, and particularly via the 12 dedicated Cruise Boutique offices which are staffed by some of TA’s highest producers.
Rather than expanding the physical locations of Cruise Boutique Travel Associates, the plan is to build the number of expert cruise advisors across the network, along with initiatives such as luxury cruise luncheons, which have proven very popular.
FCTG Luxury & Independent Global Marketing Leader Anna Burgdorf (centre), said “we get incredible support from those amazing luxury cruise brands”.
“So certainly what we want to do is introduce new clients into those brands and into our business, and just continue to grow it,” she said.
“There’s just so much opportunity for these beautiful cruise and touring partners, connecting them directly with clients and an advisor, it’s just so powerful in the cruise space.”
FCTG Global MD of Luxury and Independent, Danielle Galloway (right), added that it is “a guaranteed growth strategy”.
“The investment’s already being done by the cruise lines; we can map out the next five to 10 years in terms of their inventory starting to come into the market,” she said.
“We want to be a partner of choice to fill those cabins…we’ve all seen how beautiful these new ships are, and just how much opportunity there is.”
