NEWS ROUND-UP MOVERS & SHAKERS
Rachel Coffey is to join The Travel Corporation as sales and business development director on March 11. Coffey,
who resigned as G Adventures’ UK sales director this week, will look after TTC brands Trafalgar, Costsaver, Luxury Gold and Insight Vacations.
The Travel Network Group’s marketing director, Si Morris-Green, has left the consortium.
Morris-Green had worked for the group for six years.
If Only has appointed
Suzanne Arnold as business development manager for the north of England.
She replaces Richard Hey, who has moved to Lux Resorts & Hotels. Arnold previously worked for USAirtours.
Sandals and Beaches Resorts parent Unique Vacations UK has appointed Tamzin Bishop as business devel-
opment manager to look after agents in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Bishop previ- ously worked for Riviera Travel.
Affordable Car Hire has recruited two business development managers. Former agent Darren Phillips, who ran South Shields agency Darren Phillips Travel for nine years, will look after the north and northeast. Tracy Meldrum, who was Titan Travel agency sales executive, will look after agents in Scotland.
COMMENT: “Next time opportunity comes knocking, grab it with both hands, enjoy it and think about how you might say thank you” Giles Hawke, page 34
MSC sales increase 60% after first TV ad campaign
Harry Kemble
harry.kemble@
travelweekly.co.uk
SC Cruises has credited its first TV advertising campaign for a 60% year-on-year increase in UK and Ireland wave sales.
Antonio Paradiso, the line’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, attributed the upturn to the TV campaign and the line’s partnership with Chelsea Football Club, announced late last year. MSC’s wave campaign runs from mid-December to March. By the end of January, UK sales for the period were 60% higher than at the same time in 2018. More than 90% of wave sales
have been through the trade, and western Mediterranean sailings on MSC Bellissima and MSC Seaview have proven popular, the line said. The T advert first aired on January 1 and has appeared on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky channels. Paradiso said: “I’m really
happy to see the effect that the TV advert and the partnership
Join Clia Expedition Cruise Forum to boost ‘niche’ sales
Travel agents have been urged to attend Clia’s Expedition Cruise Forum next month to boost earnings in the “niche” cruise sector. Around 50 places are still
available for the one-day event in London on March 28. Silversea UK & Ireland managing director Peter Shanks, Seabourn expedition operations vice-president Robin
10
travelweekly.co.uk14 February 2019
BELLISSIMA: Marketing campaigns will intensify ahead of the launch
with Chelsea Football Club have had. The feedback from our agents and customers has been overwhelming.” Marketing and social media campaigns will intensify ahead of the launch of Bellissima on March 2, Paradiso said, as he revealed this year’s wave campaign would run until mid-March. “Bellissima is the biggest opportunity for people to see what MSC is all about,” he said. Paradiso believes the full
‘Bellissima-effect’ will be seen in
March and April, after it becomes the largest ship to be named in Southampton. UK sales director Steve Williams
promised more airings of the TV advert, adding: “It will all
culminate on the weekend of Bellissima’s launch.” Williams singled out the sales efforts of independent agencies and miniples, adding: “Everyone is helping. We have solid commercial relationships, a good clear message, and a rich and simple offering.”
West and broadcaster Monty Halls will speak on stage. A panel, including Celebrity Cruises training manager Leon Hand, Silversea expeditions manager Akvile Marozaite, and Craig Upshall, Aurora Expeditions’ UK sales director,
will also discuss how agents can increase sales and identify clients, and there will be a session on practical advice for taking an expedition cruise. Shanks said: “If agents make one booking following the event they could earn £3,000 in commission. I think that is a worthwhile investment.” He thanked Clia for backing the “niche” expedition sector, as it has done with river cruising in recent years. To book your place at the Clia Expedition Cruise Forum in London, visit
cruiseexperts.org › Cruise News, page 26
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