The Advantage Travel Partnership has unveiled a cruise advisory board at its annual conference in Madrid, bringing together agents, cruise lines and cruise body CLIA.
The invitation-only board will meet twice yearly to discuss the challenges and opportunities for cruising over the next decade.
The first meeting is scheduled for July, with confirmed representatives from Dawson & Sanderson, Ashdown Travel, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Riviera Travel, HX Expeditions, Imagine Cruising, News UK & Times Holidays, CLIA and Accord Marketing.
Advantage Director of Cruise Jonny Peat (pictured) said: “This is not simply another industry committee. It is an exclusive, invitation-only forum where the most senior decision-makers, innovators and thought leaders in our sector will convene twice a year to interrogate the fundamental questions shaping our industry’s long-term trajectory, and leave equipped with insights that directly inform their own strategic vision and planning”.
Alongside the launch, Jonny said cruise had ‘generally indexed over the wider market’ since the conflict in the Middle East.
He added that European ports including Barcelona, Venice and Rome had seen strong demand from travellers looking for holidays that ‘feel slightly closer to home’.
Jonny said ocean cruising was ‘holding its own’, with roundtrip UK sailings benefiting from ongoing uncertainty around the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) at airports. He added that Advantage was actively encouraging members to put cruise holidays in front of customers more often.
The consortium has been working to bring more agents into cruise sales, expanding the membership of its cruise community, Latitude, to 600 members.
