Ex-Crystal GSA in talks with line’s new owner


Harry Kemble


The former owner of Crystal Cruises’ GSA has confirmed discussions with A&K Travel Group over potential partnerships following the company’s acquisition of two of the line’s ships. Edwina Lonsdale, managing


director of Mundy Cruising, which closed its GSA arm The Cruise Portfolio in May, said she felt “very positive” about Crystal after the brand was bought alongside Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony last week. A&K Travel Group said the ships


would resume service in 2023 after an extensive refit and operate under the Crystal Cruises brand. Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio,


former owner of Silversea Cruises and chairman of private equity business Heritage Group, which owns A&K alongside Geoffrey Kent, said he “did not think twice” when the opportunity came up to buy Crystal Cruises. Lonsdale, who owns Crystal


Cruises’ UK customer database, said: “We have been in touch with Manfredi. We go back a long way. He is very excited as this is something he has wanted for some time. “I feel very positive that Manfredi


and the A&K Group will be able to regenerate a brand that we have


Edwina Lonsdale


known and loved for years.” Asked what relationship the two


businesses could have in the future, Lonsdale added: “We’ll have to see what they are planning and what they are proposing. It’s early days. “Although we hold the database,


99% of Crystal business in the UK came through travel agents.” She insisted that retaining Crystal’s


crew was critical to the brand’s future. “[The ships] are lovely, but they


are not of the standard of other luxury ships. Their secret is the crew,” she said. Lonsdale also revealed Mundy


Cruising had refunded about 1,000 Crystal bookings, worth more than £3 million, since the


Advantage promotes Cookes and Nunn to chief officer roles


The Advantage Travel Partnership has promoted two of its senior leadership team. Leisure director Kelly Cookes has been promoted to chief commercial officer to focus on “leveraging the group’s global buying power”. Operations director Paul Nunn has become chief operating officer to spearhead the group’s operational, IT, regulatory and compliance requirements.


6 30 JUNE 2022 Crystal Symphony


line collapsed earlier this year. To help refund customers for cancelled Crystal sailings, Mundy Cruising sold its offices in London’s Fitzrovia and moved to Russell Square. Lonsdale said affected customers


were transferred to other lines, including Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The Cruise Portfolio was Crystal’s GSA for 31 years. Lonsdale expects “many” customers who received refunds to “give the new A&K incarnation of Crystal a go”. Silversea has continued to decline


to comment about reports that it is set to acquire Crystal’s expedition vessel Crystal Endeavor.


Travcorp recruits for senior positions after record quarter


Online group Travcorp Holdings has filled three senior positions after reporting a 51% rise in sales for the first quarter compared with pre-pandemic levels. The operator of the Destination2.co.uk and HolidayGems.co.uk brands has recruited industry figures Adam Duthie and Dominic Leeson and promoted Jacqui Palmer.


Farndell departs Princess to take up role at HAL


Holland America Line (HAL) has named Karen Farndell of Princess Cruises as UK director of sales and marketing, following February’s announcement that the HAL and Seabourn teams were to be separated in the UK. Current director of sales


for HAL and Seabourn, Wendy Lahmich, will move fully to Seabourn as UK sales director, taking on sales for Europe as well. Lahmich will continue to


report to Lynn Narraway, who was promoted to UK and Europe managing director for Seabourn earlier this year. Farndell, currently senior sales


manager at Princess, will report to Nico Bleichrodt, HAL’s Rotterdam- based international sales vice- president, when she assumes her new role on September 19. Business development staff and


sales and marketing teams will be split. Lucy Davies, Emma Paolino and Aaron Myers will remain with Holland America Line. Lahmich will be joined at Seabourn by Dani Scannella, Charlotte Pinkus, Carly Perkins and Adam Scholey.


Karen Farndell


Wendy Lahmich


Dnata starts recruitment drive


to fill more than 120 UK roles Dnata Travel Group (UK) has announced a major recruitment drive as it seeks to fill more than 120 positions across its UK business. The owner of Travel Republic, Travelbag, Netflights, Sunmaster and trade-only tour operator Gold Medal aims to attract new staff across the group, especially in its key employment centres in Leyland, Lancashire, and Kingston upon Thames, London.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Steve Dunlop


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