NEWS ROUND-UP


MSC scores Chelsea deal as it unveils UK ship plan


Harry Kemble harry.kemble@travelweekly.co.uk


MSC Cruises will homeport a “super-enhanced ship” in Southampton for the summer season in 2021.


The ship, which has not been named, will go into dry dock and undergo a full refurbishment and lengthening. Speaking exclusively to Travel


Weekly, Antonio Paradiso, MSC’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: “This is not just a refitting. t will be a perfect blend of an old prototype ship and a new one. “The larger ship will sail northern Europe itineraries to the Baltic capitals, orwegian fords, north Cape and some southbound destinations. “t’s the first time we will have


taken 100% commitment of a ship for the UK market.” To date, MSC ships sailing out of the UK have had allocations for several different nations. Paradiso revealed the ship


would partner with “exciting British brands” and be “adapted” to meet the needs of the UK market.


Manchester airport to raise £23k to support Reuben’s Retreat


Reuben’s Retreat hopes to start building work early next year on the next phase of development at its premises in Glossop, Derbyshire. The charity was founded


six years ago by industry professionals Nicola and Mike Graham in memory of their son


TEAM GOAL: MSC Cruises’ Antonio Paradiso (left) and Gianni Onorato (right) celebrate Chelsea FC deal with club chairman Bruce Buck


On basing C nifi in Southampton for the summer 2018 season, Paradiso said: “We learnt a lot, bringing on British food, kettles and tea bags.” He added: “It has satisfaction


scores of 7.5 out of 10, which is great for a first operation out of the UK. 2021 gives us an opportunity to further improve those scores.” Paradiso said plans were still


being finalised and he would confirm the ship, deployment and details in “two to three months”. The cruise line has been named


as the official global cruise partner of Chelsea Football Club.


Reuben, who died of a brain tumour aged 23 months. The first three completed phases of development saw the charity renovate ‘The Lodge’, a building that offers services to support children who have a life-limiting illness and their families. Now, it is embarking on phases four to six, which will see work begin next door on ‘The Retreat’, in a derelict Victorian building, formerly known as Woods Hospital.


10travelweekly.co.uk29 November 2018 The announcement was made


last week, exactly 100 days before MSC Bellissima’s naming ceremony in Southampton, which ambassadors from the Premier League club are expected to attend. The multimillion-pound deal includes LED perimeter advertising at the Stamford Bridge ground, VIP hospitality, star player engagement, as well as a digital marketing presence. The partnership will run from January 1, 2019, until June 2021. MSC Cruises has also cut the


first steel for MSC Seashore, which is due to come into service in spring 2021.


Nicola Graham said six


CHALLENGE 23: Nicola Graham (top) with Manchester airport and Reuben’s staff, with patron Julie Hesmondhalgh (third left)


construction companies were tendering for the work. Manchester airport has also pledged to raise £23,000 for the charity in a ‘Challenge 23’ initiative. Over 23 weeks, the airport will give away 22 bottles of champagne plus the star prize of a holiday, to the value of £2,300, to any of Manchester airport’s 210 destinations. Tickets cost £5 and the


competition will run until May 2. tinyurl.com/challenge23


Security expert warns SMEs are ‘greater targets for cybercrime’


Many small and medium-sized businesses still have “their heads in the sand” when it comes to insuring against cybercrime. Steve Brown, senior account


executive of Towergate Under- writing Travel Solutions, said travel firms often perceived the threat as low, despite statistics showing nearly half of UK companies were victims of cyber- crime in the year to April 2018. In week six of Travel Weekly-


backed Secure Our Systems (SOS) campaign, Brown said: “Many small and medium-sized companies are still sticking their heads in the sand. The predominant response we hear is “it’s never going to happen to me”, but we are all targets. I’d argue SMEs are even greater targets because of their lack of IT security and more simple technology.” Insurance policies against


cybercrime would cover the cost of aspects including access to professionals who can manage situations, investigate the cause of the attack, legal and PR support, and data restoration.


PICTURE: NATALIE BILLINGTON


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