FLIGHT Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) new cruise wholesale operation is expected to be named CruiseHQ, Cruise Weekly can exclusively reveal today. The name, until now a closely guarded secret, was included in the fine print in an investor presentation released this morning as part of the FCTG annual results announcement....
FLIGHT Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) new cruise wholesale operation is expected to be named CruiseHQ, Cruise Weekly can exclusively reveal today.
The name, until now a closely guarded secret, was included in the fine print in an investor presentation released this morning as part of the FCTG annual results announcement.
CW can confirm FCTG currently holds domain registrations for the name in a range of jurisdictions including the United States (cruisehq.com), Australia (cruisehq.com.au), New Zealand (cruisehq.co.nz), Canada (cruisehq.ca) and the United Kingdom (cruisehq.co.uk).
None of the addresses have active websites at this stage, with the presentation suggesting an industry-wide B2B focus for the wholesale operation, offering unique cruise packaging both to FCTG brands and the wider Australian trade marketplace.
The pending launch of the wholesale business and the reintroduction of the Cruiseabout brand in Australia (CW 24 Aug) are key to FCTG’s plans to increase its scale, brand and geographic diversity, according to the company’s annual report.
It noted its total available margins in cruise are generally in line with pre-pandemic levels, and cited the launch of a “cruise specialty proof-of-concept store” within Flight Centre Canada.
The company is aiming to capitalise on forecasted strong growth in cruise, with Chief Executive Officer Leisure Brands, James Kavanagh, this month promising a national Cruiseabout footprint plus a network of flagship retail outlets, and a Gold Coast-based call centre.
