CONFERENCE McAlpin


Antonio Paradiso


Richard Branson on stage with moderator Lucy Huxley, Travel Weekly


Branson hints at cruises in Mexico, Australia and Med


S


ir Richard Branson revealed the destinations he would like Virgin Voyages to sail to during


a surprise appearance at the Clia Conference. Te Virgin Group founder said


Turks & Caicos Islands, Mexico, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Australia were potential destinations for Virgin Voyages itineraries. Branson outlined his wishes for


the line on stage alongside Virgin Voyages president and chief executive Tom McAlpin aſter dropping into the Q&A session midway through. He said: “We are looking at a few


different destinations – we like to surprise people and I hope that we do that.”


Referring to Scarlet Lady, Virgin


Voayges’ first ship which is due to launch next year, Branson said: “We wanted to try and create a cruise ship that the millions of people who have never been on a cruise ship will go on, so we can expand the market. “I am extremely excited and that


is why I have flown 4,000 miles to come and talk to you about it.” McAlpin confirmed Scarlet Lady


will sail to the UK when it launches next spring. Te line later confirmed it will call at Dover and Liverpool in February 2020. McAlpin also added: “Tis is a


really important market for us and our brand is really strong here.” McAlpin said UK agents would be invited to see the ship but he did


not reveal how many agents from this country had joined the line’s First Mates agent portal. Branson told the audience he had


someone in mind to be Scarlet Lady’s godmother but refused to reveal a name when quizzed on stage by Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley. Asked whether he had considered


entering the river cruise market, Branson said: “I am sure that Tom [McAlpin] will say stick with our onions, but it is a good idea. “I had not thought about it. I love


trying new things.” Branson said he would be keen


for a silent disco on Scarlet Lady, and reiterated that sun cream that does not harm coral reefs would be made available to Virgin cruise passengers.


MSC signals plan to make Magnifica bigger and better


MSC Cruises has all but confirmed that MSC Magnifica will be lengthened and given British touches before it homeports in the UK. Antonio Paradiso, the line’s


managing director for the UK and Ireland, previously refused to reveal which MSC ship would go into dry dock and re-emerge as “a super-enhanced version” of itself for summer 2021. Te move had been mooted


in November when the line signed a partnership with Chelsea FC. Speaking on MSC Preziosa, Paradiso said the unnamed ship would be “magnificent”. Te name of the line’s new


luxury fleet, due to launch from 2023, would be revealed in the coming weeks, Paradiso said.


Improve your product knowledge and you’ll sell more, Azamara’s Pimentel tells agents “Experience Edge by cruising on


Azamara Club Cruises’ Larry Pimentel has challenged agents to “plug in” to training programmes to boost sales through confidence. Te line’s chief executive and president told 600 agent


14 23 MAY 2019


delegates that customers wanted to hear from a confident seller. He cited the example of


Celebrity Cruises ship Celebrity Edge, which nearly 900 agents had sailed on earlier in the week.


He added that research


her and your confidence goes up,” he said. “People want to hear from confident sellers. Plug in to training programmes – you’ll feel more confident with more knowledge.”


showed that agents who were not confident started talking about price. “If you win the customer with the lowest price, then that is how you will lose them too,” he said.


travelweekly.co.uk


Clia Conference: Clia hosted 750 agents at its largest-ever annual Tom


PICTURES: Steve Dunlop


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