Georg Ruebensal, managing director Expedia Australia, believes Australia’s cruise market penetration, only 0.3% behind the United States, will see the company thrive in its new venture into cruising. “Cruise has been a major success in the USA – it has proved very popular with our American customers and we’ve sent...
Georg Ruebensal, managing
director Expedia Australia,
believes Australia’s cruise
market penetration, only 0.3%
behind the United States, will
see the company thrive in its
new venture into cruising.
“Cruise has been a major success in the
USA – it has proved very popular with our
American customers and we’ve sent hundreds
of thousands of them on holiday on the high
seas,” Ruebensal told Cruise Weekly.
“The exciting news is, given cruise
penetration in Australia is reaching near
American levels, we expect this product to
flourish in this market as well.”
He said this week’s local launch of Expedia’s
cruise product is the culmination of an
extended period of research and development.
“Projects of this nature do not happen
overnight and a lot of work has gone into
launching this product to ensure its relevance
and value to our customers.
“Cruise holidays are continually growing
in Australia and, as with everything we do,
we want to ensure that we best serve our
customers with all their travel requirements.”
More than 30 cruise lines are included
in Expedia Australia’s line-up, with further
product to be added “depending on interest”,
Ruebensal said.
The new cruise product is not yet
commissionable for members of the
company’s Travel Agent Affiliate Program, but
this also remains open to change.
“Expedia goes to great lengths to support
travel agents through our TAAP program & we
are continuously investigating opportunities
for TAAP and cruise,” Ruebensal said.
