AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLERS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE UP INCREASING NUMBERS on TUI Marine’s range of water-based holiday options, with the company launching a concerted push to boost its local business. Having appointed experienced industry marketer Mark Windsor as its local head of distribution earlier this year, the company is expected to significantly ramp up its activities...
AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLERS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE UP INCREASING NUMBERS on TUI Marine’s range of water-based holiday options, with the company launching a concerted push to boost its local business. Having appointed experienced industry marketer Mark Windsor as its local head of distribution earlier this year, the company is expected to significantly ramp up its activities – and will relocate it sales and marketing operations from their current position on Hamilton Island to Sydney. TUI Marine chief operating officer, Cheryl Powell, was in Sydney last weekend to take part in the Sydney Boat Show, where the group’s Sunsail brand had a yacht on display. The company operates three brands: the Sunsail and Moorings yachting operations, as well as Le Boat, which specialises in European canal boating holidays. Florida-based Powell, who’s pictured above with Windsor, told CW that currently most of the company’s business comes from the US and the UK, but strong growth is expected from the expanding Australian business. “Australians make up about 3% of our business at the moment, and we think we can more than double that,” she said. Windsor said that since his appointment just a few months ago, sales of the Le Boat product are up more than 80%, indicating strong demand for this type of niche European holiday. And it’s suprisingly reasonable too, with a six berth canal boat – able to be driven using a simple joystick controller – costing around $3000 for a week of meandering through the French, Belgian or English countryside. Pictured left on the Sunsail yacht at the Boat show are Mark Windsor, Sarina Wait, Cheryl Powell, David Flynn, Julia Baker and Wayne Richards.
