NEWS THE INTERVIEW QUICK f ŭ
Where is home? A 16th-century cottage in a sleepy village in Mid Sussex.
The last book you read? T
sunami Kids by the Gandy Brothers.
Favourite holiday destination? Southern Italy, specifically Positano on the Amalfi Coast – it holds a place in my heart.
What do you enjoy doing while on holiday? Self-drive – mopeds or cars – to get off the beaten track. Trying out new restaurants and the local food.
About 480 UK agents will see
Mardi Gras when it sails from Copenhagen on August 31 via Southampton to New York. A further 500 UK agents will be
welcomed on 18 ship visits and 10 fam trips throughout the year. These will take place on Carnival
Radiance and Carnival Legend, both of which are based in Europe and operate sailings from Barcelona, Venice and Dover. Carnival Legend’s Dover
departure will be the first Carnival ship to dock at a UK port for seven years. In 2021, Carnival Legend will have nine ex-UK departures from Dover.
New campaign Eager to make the most of having Carnival ships in the UK, Baillie and his team have set up a new campaign, Why Use A Travel Agent (Wuata), designed to dispel myths surrounding agents. Clia Global research carried out
earlier this year, in partnership with Carnival, showed 75% of cruise
travelweekly.co.uk
passengers book through an agent. But Baillie says: “We wondered
what was happening with that [other] 25%. Why are they not using a travel agent? “Let’s see if we can get consumers
who don’t currently use an agent to start using one.” The research has prompted
Carnival to launch a nationwide competition through Travel Weekly to find an agency business that can help banish some of the myths uncovered in the research, including a belief that holidays are more expensive when booked through a travel agent. Carnival will host a party at a
venue as near as possible to the winning agency with Love Island star Dr Alex George, and invite members of the public to attend. “We want to make sure this party
is up in lights and it is saying to those consumers who never use a travel agent to start booking with one,” Baillie says. “This will get the message out there and is great publicity for the
agency to promote its business.” A family cruise on Carnival will
be given away on the night, through a prize draw, which will be promoted by Dr Alex to his 1.5 million followers on social media. The winning agency will book the
cruise and receive commission from Carnival. Dr Alex and his girlfriend Amelia Bath will also join the trip.
Globes hopes For the first time, Carnival Cruise Line has been nominated for three Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards at the January 2020 event: Best Mainstream Cruise Company, Best Trade Sales Team and Best Trade-Friendly Brand. Carnival has never won a Globe,
but Baillie hopes that Wuata, Loyalty Rocks Club and the ongoing success of Fun Ambassadors will help the line bag its first one on January 16. “We’re optimistic and have high
hopes,” Baillie says. “But just to be considered for
three awards is music to our ears. “We hope it’s come about because of our forward-thinking initiatives.”
Any hobbies? Gardening, walks and cooking.
What has been your best experience working in travel? Travelling the world, meeting people from different countries.
Which one thing about the industry would you change? Raise more awareness of how travel agents add amazing service and value to consumers.
What inspired you to work in travel? I had travelled a bit before starting work and decided I wanted to see more of the world while working.
Which three people in travel would you invite to a dinner party? Arnold Donald, Christine Duffy and Adolfo Perez – all incredibly inspiring individuals who I have learnt a great deal from throughout my career.
12 DECEMBER 2019
15
PICTURE: Steve Dunlop
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