Mundy Cruising winds up Crystal Cruises GSA
Harry Kemble
Travel agency Mundy Cruising has closed its GSA arm The Cruise Portfolio after Crystal Cruises ceased operations. Managing director Edwina
Lonsdale said The Cruise Portfolio “still exists to meet the liabilities of the defunct Crystal Cruises” but now “operates simply as a vehicle for refunding all outstanding Crystal client refunds”. She added: “Mundy Cruising and
Mundy Adventures continue as a successful cruise-only specialist.” Lonsdale confirmed all staff
employed by The Cruise Portfolio had been made redundant. The decision to close The Cruise
Portfolio means Paul Gauguin Cruises, owned by French operator Ponant, and Windstar Cruises currently do not have a wholesale agent in the UK. Both lines were represented by The Cruise Portfolio. It is understood Windstar will
soon announce a new UK GSA, while Paul Gauguin has no plans to use another UK-based GSA. Ponant has transferred existing
Paul Gauguin Cruises bookings made via The Cruise Portfolio into its booking system, said Stephen Winter, Ponant’s international sales director.
The Cruise
Portfolio still exists to meet the liabilities of the defunct Crystal Cruises
He added: “While The Cruise
Portfolio has ceased trading, its parent company Mundy Cruising – one of Ponant’s key partners – is still going strong. “Paul Gauguin Cruises’ travel
agents and trade partners are invited to get in touch and book directly with [Ponant head office in] Marseille.” In the US, a website – called
Natalie Holder joins Not Just Travel as head of trade
Former Hurtigruten UK trade partnerships manager Natalie Holder has joined Not Just Travel as head of trade. Her role will focus on growing and expanding the homeworking agency’s relationship with partners as well as developing marketing, sales and training. Holder previously managed the trade and marketing team at The Travel Network Group for seven years.
8 12 MAY 2022
CrystalCruiseClaims.com – was set up by executive vice-president Mark Healy of Michael Moecker & Associates earlier this year to facilitate customer refunds or monies owed to creditors. Healy is managing the liquidation of the Crystal Cruises, Crystal AirCruises and Crystal Holdings US brands. Two weeks ago, Travel Weekly
reported that a major cruise firm had expressed an interest in Crystal Cruises and former Silversea Cruises owner Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio was understood to have submitted another bid. In February, he confirmed he had
made two “fully-funded” offers to acquire the luxury line.
Investigation launched into three deaths at Sandals resort
Police are investigating after three American tourists were found dead at a Sandals resort in the Bahamas. Detectives were involved after the deaths of two men and a woman on Friday on the island of Exuma. Police said no signs of trauma were found, but two of the bodies were said to show “signs of convulsion”.
Fred Olsen Travel seeks recruits and acquisition opportunities
Fred Olsen Travel is continuing to recruit staff and look for expansion opportunities as the agency chain’s sales bounce back after the pandemic. Paul Hardwick, head of commercial, said he had recruited seven staff this year and was seeking a further six for roles across the network in southern and eastern England. He added: “We’re always looking for acquisitions.”
travelweekly.co.uk
Expedition ship Crystal Endeavor
Family-run SPL Villas to start selling via trade
A villa holiday specialist founded during the pandemic is to start selling through the trade this month. SPL Villas features more than
900 rental properties across 100 destinations including Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. A trade partnership manager,
Anne Clays, has been recruited by the family-run business to engage with agents and provide training. An agent portal has also been
created to enable retailers to see the exact commission they will earn on each villa booking. Agents will be offered 10%
commission on all bookings and most villas can be secured for a 10% deposit. SPL Villas plans to run incentives across the year as well as fam trips. Managing director Ed Frampton-
Fell said: “Launching to the trade has been part of our business plan and strategy from day one as we know how important agent support is to any travel business.” The company has sealed
a distribution deal with The Advantage Travel Partnership and said it will be speaking to as many of the consortium’s agents as possible.
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