FLIGHT Centre Travel Group (FCTG) is set to relaunch its Cruiseabout brand in Australia (CW breaking news), after it was axed more than five years ago (CW 22 Feb 2018). The relaunch will incorporate a national retail shop network, a local call centre, and online booking functionality. Cruiseabout will be...
FLIGHT Centre Travel Group (FCTG) is set to relaunch its Cruiseabout brand in Australia (CW breaking news), after it was axed more than five years ago (CW 22 Feb 2018).
The relaunch will incorporate a national retail shop network, a local call centre, and online booking functionality.
Cruiseabout will be primarily focused on the fly-cruise segment, offering cruise deals and exclusive rates, as well as exclusive product with key suppliers, all leveraged under the FCTG global supply network.
The Gold Coast-based call centre and online booking capabilities will launch toward the end of the year, with the retail shop network to be inaugurated in Sydney, before rolling out to other capital cities next year.
FCTG Chief Executive Officer Leisure Brands James Kavanagh told Cruise Weekly reviving Cruiseabout will signal a distinctive offering in the market for Australian cruisers.
“We’re able to offer a modernised and refreshed retail cruise brand to customers who have been missing out for years now,” he said.
“Our model, with its national footprint, Australian based-call centre and online booking functionality all serviced by specialist cruise experts, will be the only one of its kind.”
FCTG has also announced the re-establishment of a dedicated wholesale cruise division, to support the needs of Australian cruise customers.
Chief Executive Officer Supply Greg Parker told CW the wholesale offering will support the complex requirements of cruise packages and service the needs of FCTG brands, as well as external independent agencies, via exclusive pricing of unique bundled packages.
Kavanagh noted the global cruise industry is thriving once more, rebounding faster than international departures and arrivals, which prompted FCTG to relaunch Cruiseabout, to greater service Australian cruisers.
“We know from research that cruise has a high return rate for travellers with around 85% of cruisers intent to cruise again and globally, there is approximately four million worth of brand-new cruise customers predicted to cruise over the next 18 months,” he estimated.
“We want to be part of the cruise industry’s growth story with our revived offering.”
Recruiting for roles across the retail network, call centre, and wholesale division will commence shortly.
