| Cruising boosts best sales week ever

TravelManagers has achieved
its best sales week ever this
month, and has attributed
much of this success to a
massive increase in cruise
bookings.
THE bumper week, between 06-12 Feb saw
sales up a whopping 26.9% on the company’s
last ‘record week’ 14-24 Feb 2011, with
TravelManagers ceo, Joe Araullo, saying that a
69% year-on-year increase in cruise bookings
has much to do with the company’s success.
“It’s a great indication of what 2012 might
have installed for us,” he said.
“There’s no doubt cruising is growing from
strength to strength and regularly forming part
of a holiday itinerary our personal travel
managers are creating for their clients,” he
added.
Araullo said that the company’s variety of
cruise product on offer, as well as its emphasis
on training, education and ship inspections
was clearly making a difference.
“To give you an example of the variety
available, in the week 14 – 20 February 2011
cruise sales encompassed 13 suppliers, in our
record week this year (6 – 12 February 2012)
cruise sales covered 21 suppliers,” he said.
“We work closely with our partner suppliers
to provide training and regular updates for our
personal travel managers on what’s new in the
area of cruising so they always have the most
up-to-date information for clients,” he added.
The growth of cruise, according to Araullo,
also shows that “organised holidays are
making a comeback through the personal
travel manager sector”.
The top sellers in TravelManagers record
sales week 2012 included: P&O Cruises, APT
River Cruises, Princess Cruises, Silversea and
Wiltrans.
“Obviously this is just one week out of 52
weeks and cruise sales vary from week to
week depending on what season it is,
marketing activities whether it’s pricing
specials, onboard credits or fly free offers but
the key point is people want to cruise,” he said.
“It’s seen as offering significant value for
money, it’s a low stress holiday where you
unpack once and the variety ensures there is
something to suit everyone’s individual taste
and budget,” he added.